PSC H138

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) is a standard classification system used by the U.S. federal government to label and track the types of products and services procured across agencies. PSC codes support consistent reporting, analysis, and management of federal contracting activity.

PSC H138 identifies acquisitions related to quality-control and testing equipment and services specifically for construction, mining, excavating, and highway maintenance equipment. In federal procurements this PSC is used to classify purchases that support inspection, testing, calibration, or other quality-assurance activities applied to heavy equipment and related systems; contract actions recorded under this PSC enable agencies and analysts to track spending on equipment-focused quality control separately from equipment acquisition or construction services.

What this PSC covers

• Inspection and testing equipment for heavy construction machinery
• Calibration tools and fixtures for mining and excavating equipment
• Portable diagnostic and condition-monitoring instruments for highway maintenance fleets
• Quality-assurance and laboratory testing services related to construction/mining equipment
• Measurement and verification devices used in equipment safety and performance checks
• Replacement parts and accessories specific to quality-control instrumentation
• Training materials or technical manuals directly tied to equipment quality-control processes

Compliance and security considerations

• Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements for procurement procedures and contract clauses apply to acquisitions classified under H138.
• Apply federal information security frameworks (NIST SP 800-53 / NIST SP 800-171) where equipment includes or connects to information systems; specific controls depend on system categorization.
• Safety and workplace standards (OSHA) and environmental regulations may apply when testing/inspecting equipment onsite.
• Agency-specific IT and physical security policies govern handling of diagnostic data and access to calibration/inspection systems; specific requirements are Not specified by official sources.

Related NAICS and PSC codes

• PSC H138 (Quality control — construction, mining, excavating, and highway maintenance equipment)
• NAICS 333120 (Construction Machinery Manufacturing)
• NAICS 333131 (Mining Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing)
• NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction)

Frequently asked questions

• Q: Where can I verify the official PSC description and use?
  A: Official PSC definitions and guidance are published by federal procurement reporting systems and FPDS; search FPDS/USASpending PSC resources for confirmation.

• Q: How do I determine the correct NAICS when procuring H138-related services or equipment?
  A: Use Census Bureau NAICS resources and agency procurement guidance to match product/service descriptions to NAICS codes; agencies often reference NAICS during solicitation drafting.

• Q: What security standards apply if the quality-control equipment includes embedded IT or transmits data?
  A: NIST cybersecurity publications (e.g., SP 800-53 / SP 800-171) are the primary federal standards to apply; agencies map specific controls based on the system’s impact level.

• Q: Are there specific FAR clauses commonly required for H138 procurements?
  A: FAR contract clauses applicable to supply and services acquisitions apply; the exact clauses depend on contract type, dollar value, and agency policy. Specific clause selection is determined by contracting officers per FAR.

References

• Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) — Product Service Codes (PSC) resources (official PSC listings and guidance). https://www.fpds.gov
• USAspending — PSC search and spending reports (PSC-specific spending data). https://www.usaspending.gov
• NIST Computer Security Resource Center — NIST Special Publication 800-53 (security and privacy controls). https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-53/rev-5/final
• Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) — Acquisition rules and contract clause guidance. https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far
• U.S. Census Bureau — North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) directory. https://www.census.gov/naics/