PSC H263

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) system standardizes how U.S. federal procurement classifies products and services for contracting, reporting, and spend analysis. The PSC Manual on Acquisition.gov provides the official code definitions, assignments, and update procedures used across agencies and reporting systems. ¹

PSC H263 — Equipment and Materials Testing- Alarm, Signal, and Security Detection Systems — appears in federal procurement records when the primary activity is testing or evaluation of alarm, signal, or security-detection equipment and related materials. Award and solicitation metadata in FPDS show H263 used for tasking that centers on testing, acceptance, or evaluation of security-detection systems and components. ²

• See also on G2X:
  • G2X — PSC H263
  • G2X — PSC H163
  • G2X — PSC H363

What this PSC covers

• Equipment testing for alarm, signal, and security detection systems. ²
• Materials testing associated with security-detection components (for example, sensors and control panels). Not specified by official sources ¹.
• Diagnostic, acceptance, and performance testing for installed alarm and signal systems. Not specified by official sources ¹.
• Test data reporting, recordkeeping, and pass/fail documentation related to system/component evaluation. Not specified by official sources ¹.
• Laboratory or field testing procedures applied to system components and subsystems. Not specified by official sources ¹.

Related NAICS and PSC codes

How agencies commonly apply H263 in solicitations and awards

Agencies assign PSC H263 when the dominant procurement objective is testing, evaluation, or materials testing of alarm, signal, or security-detection equipment. In practice, H263 appears on line items or task orders focused on laboratory or field testing, acceptance inspections for delivered components, and performance verification for installed systems; FPDS award metadata provide program examples and pairing patterns with security-services NAICS. ²

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the official short descriptor for PSC H263?
  A: The descriptor shown in procurement metadata for PSC H263 is "Equipment and Materials Testing- Alarm, Signal, and Security Detection Systems," as recorded in award records and cataloged under the PSC Manual/FPDS entries. ²

• Q: Which NAICS is commonly associated with H263?
  A: Award records using PSC H263 frequently list NAICS 561621 (Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths)), reflecting the common linkage to security-systems testing and inspection work. ²

• Q: Does H263 cover installation or repair work for alarm systems?
  A: The H263 descriptor is limited to testing of equipment and materials; installation and maintenance/repair are normally recorded under PSCs that explicitly reference installation, maintenance, or repair. Not specified by official sources for H263 assignments. ¹

• Q: How should I decide whether a solicitation should use H263?
  A: Use PSC H263 when the solicitation’s primary purpose is testing, evaluation, or materials testing of alarm/signal/security-detection equipment. If the dominant work is installation, maintenance, or supply, select the PSC that best matches that primary activity; FPDS examples illustrate these distinctions. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC H263 (internal overview)
• Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual (PSC Manual, current collection). ¹
• FPDS — EZSearch and award records (search and evidence of PSC usage). ²

References

1. Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual (PSC Manual, April 2025 PDF). https://www.acquisition.gov/content/psc-manual-april-2025.pdf

2. FPDS — EZSearch / FPDS award records and metadata (FPDS.gov). https://www.fpds.gov/ezsearch/