PSC B538

Overview

The Product Service Code system standardizes how the U.S. federal government classifies purchased supplies and services in procurement systems, supporting consistent reporting, analytics, and transparency across FPDS and related acquisition platforms. The PSC schema and updates are maintained through the PSC Manual issued on Acquisition.gov. ¹

PSC B538 is defined in Category B (Special Studies/Analysis, not R&D) as “Special Studies/Analysis – Intelligence.” Agencies use B538 when the predominant purpose of the action is a non-R&D intelligence-focused study or analysis, and select it in FPDS to reflect “what” was bought. Category B explicitly excludes R&D, which is coded under Section A. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — PSC B541
• G2X — PSC B546

What this PSC covers

• Non-R&D special studies and analyses with an intelligence subject focus. ²
• Evaluations, assessments, or reviews of intelligence missions, capabilities, or functions where analysis is the primary service. ²
• Analytic reports on intelligence policies, programs, or organizational constructs (non-R&D). ²
• Reviews of intelligence data, information, or processes to inform decisions without creating new technology. ²
• Strategic or operational intelligence studies intended to inform planning or oversight, not experimentation or development. ²
• Requirements, feasibility, or options analyses tied to intelligence activities when not more appropriately coded elsewhere in Category B. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Per the PSC Manual, related codes in Category B5 include: ²

Type	Code	Descriptor
PSC	B541	Special Studies/Analysis – Defense
PSC	B549	Special Studies/Analysis – Foreign/National Security Policy
PSC	B546	Special Studies/Analysis – Security (Physical/Personal)
PSC	B553	Special Studies/Analysis – Communications

Coding tips and boundaries

• Use B538 when the predominant service is a special study or analysis about intelligence; if the effort is research and experimental development, select a Section A R&D PSC instead. ²
• PSC selection in FPDS is based on the predominant product or service purchased for each action; choose the most representative code when multiple services are present. ²
• If the analysis centers on adjacent domains (e.g., defense-wide policy under B541 or physical security under B546), select that code rather than B538. ²

Award usage examples (from FPDS)

• DoD delivery orders for intelligence analysis support have used PSC B538 in combination with NAICS 541990 on services contracts. ³
• Civilian-agency BPAs for analytic services have paired PSC B538 with NAICS 541611 in FPDS award records. ⁴

Frequently asked questions

• What does PSC B538 represent?
  PSC B538 is the code for “Special Studies/Analysis – Intelligence” within Category B (Special Studies/Analysis, not R&D). It is used to classify non-R&D studies and analytical efforts focused on intelligence topics in FPDS. ²

• Is B538 considered a research and development (R&D) code?
  No. Category B codes are explicitly “Special Studies/Analysis, Not R&D.” R&D efforts must use Section A R&D PSCs that capture stage and domain per the PSC Manual. ²

• Where is the PSC captured in federal reporting systems?
  In FPDS, the PSC is recorded in data element 8A (“Product or Service Code”). Environmental attributes, when applicable, are captured separately in data element 8L. ²

• Is there an official NAICS crosswalk for B538?
  Not specified by official sources. The PSC Manual defines descriptors and usage but does not establish authoritative NAICS mappings. ¹

• How should B538 be chosen versus B541 or B546?
  Select the code that best reflects the principal purpose: B538 for intelligence-focused studies, B541 for defense studies, and B546 for physical/personal security analysis. Choose based on the predominant service. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC B538 overview
• Product and Service Code Manual — library and current versions (Acquisition.gov). ¹
• PSC Manual April 2025 — PDF (current edition). ²
• FPDS ezSearch example results showing awards coded with PSC B538. ³

References

1. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual (library): https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual/all
2. Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual April 2025 (PDF): https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
3. FPDS-NG ezSearch — DoD delivery orders citing PSC B538 with NAICS 541990: https://www.fpds.gov/ezsearch/fpdsportal?indexName=awardfull&q=+FA4890+TREASURY_ACCOUNT_SYMBOL%3A%22970100%22+DEPARTMENT_FULL_NAME%3A%22DEPT+OF+DEFENSE%22+ULTIMATE_UEI_NAME%3A%22METIS+SOLUTIONS++LLC%22&templateName=1.5.3
4. FPDS-NG ezSearch — Treasury BPAs citing PSC B538 with NAICS 541611: https://www.fpds.gov/ezsearch/fpdsportal?q=bpa+-%22bpa+call%22+2032K3++MODIFICATION_NUMBER%3A%220%22++SIGNED_DATE%3A%5B2022%2F07%2F01%2C2022%2F10%2F01%5D