PSC H196

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) is the federal taxonomy used to label and track products and services in procurement systems such as FPDS and SAM. PSCs support consistent reporting, market analysis, and spend visibility across federal acquisitions by providing a stable code set and descriptors that contracting officers, vendors, and analysts use for classification and reporting. ¹

The PSC entry for H196 — Quality Control- Ores, Minerals, and Their Primary Products — designates quality-control, testing, inspection, and related laboratory and field services applied to ores, minerals, and primary processed products. Agencies select this PSC when the procurement’s principal purpose is QC, testing, inspection, sampling, assay, or certification of those materials. ²

What this PSC covers

• Sample collection and chain-of-custody for ore and mineral lots
• Laboratory physical and chemical analysis of ores and concentrates
• Metallurgical testing and assay services for primary mineral products
• Inspection and acceptance testing at mine, concentrator, or refinery
• Certification and reporting of material composition and grade
• Non‑destructive testing and monitoring for bulk mineral shipments

Source: PSC Manual listings for H-category entries and the PSC product list. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type | Code | Descriptor

• | - | -
• PSC | H296 | Equipment and Materials Testing- Ores, Minerals, And Their Primary Products
• PSC | H996 | Other Quality Control, Testing, and Inspection- Ores, Minerals, And Their Primary Products
• PSC | L096 | Technical Representative- Ores, Minerals, And Their Primary Products

Source: PSC Manual cross-references for H-category entries. ²

Contracting considerations

Quality-control procurements classified under H196 frequently require documented inspection and testing procedures, accredited laboratory methods (for example, ISO/IEC 17025 where specified), and evidence of chain-of-custody or traceability. Solicitations should specify required test methods, reporting formats, sample handling, timelines, and acceptance criteria; contractors are responsible for maintaining quality-control systems and substantiating conformity to contract requirements. ⁴

How H196 is recorded in federal systems

When a contracting action’s primary deliverable is QC/testing/inspection for ores or minerals, the Product Service Code field in FPDS must reflect the PSC Manual value; FPDS stores the PSC as the product/service code element used for reporting and analysis. Contracting officers should select the PSC that best matches the principal purpose of the acquisition. ³

Frequently asked questions

• Q: When should a contracting officer use H196 instead of a testing‑equipment PSC?
  A: Use H196 when the acquisition’s primary requirement is quality-control, inspection, or laboratory testing services applied to ores, minerals, or primary mineral products. If the purchase is for testing equipment (capital items), select the PSC for equipment rather than this services PSC. ²

• Q: Does H196 distinguish between field inspection and laboratory analysis?
  A: The descriptor covers quality-control activities broadly and can be used for field sampling/inspection and laboratory analysis when those services represent the contract’s principal purpose. Define the specific tasks, deliverables, and reporting requirements clearly in the statement of work. ²

• Q: Is H196 mandatory in FPDS reporting?
  A: FPDS requires a valid PSC from the PSC Manual for the product/service code element. If the awarded action’s principal purpose matches the PSC Manual descriptor for H196, reporting it in FPDS is required for accurate spend and category reporting. ³

• Q: What quality-related clauses commonly apply to contracts using H196?
  A: Standard FAR quality and inspection clauses apply as specified in the solicitation. Typical expectations include contractor QC responsibilities, inspection rights, provision of test records, and acceptance criteria; specify applicable clauses and any industry-standard accreditation or method requirements. ⁴

Useful resources

• H196 — Quality Control- Ores, Minerals, and Their Primary Products (G2X)
• PSC Manual (Acquisition.gov) — authoritative PSC guidance and manual files. ¹
• PSC April 2025 — official Product and Service Code list (spreadsheet). ²
• FPDS glossary — Product or Service Code definition and FPDS usage. ³

References

1. Product and Service Code Manual — PSC Manual (Acquisition.gov). https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
2. PSC April 2025 (Product and Service Code list) — Acquisition.gov. https://www.acquisition.gov/content/psc-april-2025.xlsx
3. FPDS glossary — Product or Service Code definition (FPDS). https://www.fpds.gov/help_V1_1/Glossary.htm
4. FAR 46.105 Contractor responsibilities (Acquisition.gov). https://www.acquisition.gov/far/46.105