PSC H356

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) system standardizes how the U.S. federal government classifies purchased products and services for procurement, reporting, and spend analysis. PSCs are recorded in systems such as FPDS and SAM and are maintained via the PSC Manual published on Acquisition.gov. PSC H356 is the code assigned to inspection and laboratory services specific to construction and building materials; official guidance indicates these entries typically include commercial testing and laboratory services and explicitly exclude medical and dental laboratory services. The PSC Manual provides the formal “includes” and “excludes” language contracting officers use when coding contract line items for inspection, sampling, testing, and non-medical laboratory analysis related to construction work.¹

• See also on G2X:
  • PSC H356
  • PSC H256
  • PSC H156

What this PSC covers

• Commercial testing and laboratory services for construction and building materials (non-medical) as defined by the PSC Manual.¹
• Material acceptance and quality-assurance inspections tied to construction contracts.¹
• Building-materials compliance testing and reporting required by contract specifications and applicable standards.¹
• On-site inspection services for installed construction components and assemblies.¹
• Non-medical laboratory analysis of aggregates, concrete, asphalt, masonry, and metals used in construction projects.¹
• Sampling and implementation of test plans associated with construction contract deliverables.¹
• Excludes medical and dental laboratory services and clinical testing, which are outside the PSC’s scope.¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Not specified by official sources.¹

How agencies typically apply PSC H356

Agencies assign PSC H356 when contract line items are specifically for inspection, sampling, testing, or laboratory analysis of construction and building materials rather than for construction performance or clinical testing. Contracting officers use the PSC Manual’s scope guidance and “includes/excludes” notes, and they should ensure statements of work and CLINs reflect service-oriented tasks (inspection/testing) to support accurate FPDS reporting and spend classification.¹

Contracting considerations

• Draft the statement of work to clearly separate testing/inspection deliverables (PSC H356) from construction performance tasks so CLINs map to the appropriate PSC and NAICS classifications. Not specified by official sources.¹
• Reference applicable test standards (for example ASTM, AASHTO, or agency-specific specifications) in the SOW to define acceptance criteria and laboratory responsibilities; this reduces ambiguity when assigning PSCs and reporting contract actions.¹
• When inspection or testing is bundled with construction work, consider separate CLINs and PSCs for the service elements to preserve data fidelity in FPDS and for contract management and auditability.¹

Frequently asked questions

• What does PSC H356 include?
  PSC H356 covers inspection and commercial laboratory testing services that are specific to construction and building materials (strength, composition, durability, and other non-medical properties). The PSC Manual’s “includes” language clarifies typical services and the Manual explicitly excludes medical and dental laboratory work.¹

• Where is PSC information maintained and published?
  The authoritative definitions, includes/excludes guidance, and code changes for PSCs are published in the PSC Manual on Acquisition.gov; contracting officers and acquisition personnel reference this Manual for coding and reporting decisions.¹

• How should a contracting officer decide between H356 and a construction NAICS?
  Use PSC H356 for service-oriented CLINs (inspection, sampling, testing). Use a construction NAICS when the contract primarily procures construction performance. Document the functional split in the SOW and CLIN structure so FPDS reporting reflects the contract’s true scope.¹

• Is H356 appropriate for laboratory testing of environmental contaminants in building materials?
  If testing is focused on construction-material properties (for example composition, strength, or material compliance) and is non-clinical, PSC H356 may apply. Clinical or medical testing is excluded; consult the PSC Manual for boundary conditions.¹

• Where can I look up PSC definitions and selection guidance online?
  Use the federal PSC Tool for searchable PSC definitions and related guidance; the PSC Manual on Acquisition.gov remains the formal and authoritative definition source for assignment and reporting.²

Useful resources

• PSC H356 (G2X overview)
• PSC Manual (authoritative definitions and includes/excludes): https://www.acquisition.gov/content/psc-manual-april-2025.pdf¹
• Product Service Code (PSC) Tool — searchable PSC lookup: https://psctool.us/²

References

1. PSC Manual April 2025 (Product Service Code Manual). Acquisition.gov. https://www.acquisition.gov/content/psc-manual-april-2025.pdf
2. Product Service Code (PSC) Tool. https://psctool.us/