PSC H368

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) is the federal government’s standardized taxonomy for reporting what was acquired on each contract action in the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). PSCs provide consistent classification for spend analysis, reporting, and market research and are maintained through the PSC Manual and associated FPDS guidance. The PSC H368 — Inspection- Chemicals and Chemical Products — applies when the predominant work is inspection, testing, or laboratory services related to chemical products; the PSC Manual lists included activities (for example, commercial testing and laboratory services) and explicit exclusions (for example, medical and dental laboratory services). ¹

What this PSC covers

• Commercial testing and laboratory services for chemicals and chemical products, as an FPDS-classified service. ¹
• Inspection services tied to chemical product acceptance and conformance. Not specified by official sources ¹.
• Analytical composition and purity testing of chemical shipments. Not specified by official sources ¹.
• Quality-control and conformance testing to government or industry specifications. Not specified by official sources ¹.
• Environmental or contaminant screening of chemical products and related samples. Not specified by official sources ¹.

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Not specified by official sources for specific NAICS mappings in the narrative PSC entry; agencies may consult the PSC-to-NAICS alignment spreadsheet or PSC Selection Tool for suggested mappings. Not specified by official sources ¹.

Acquisition notes

• FPDS coding: The PSC is reported in FPDS data element 8A; environmental attributes (when applicable) are recorded in data element 8L. Agencies should select the PSC that represents the predominant product or service being purchased, with the PSC placed in 8A. ²
• Overlap and selection guidance: Adjacent PSCs cover related activities (for example, H268 for Equipment and Materials Testing — Chemicals and Chemical Products, or J068 for Maintenance, Repair, and Rebuilding of Equipment — Chemicals and Chemical Products). Review the PSC Manual entries to determine which PSC represents the predominant activity before coding. ¹

Frequently asked questions

• Q: When should H368 be used instead of a product PSC for chemicals?
  A: Use H368 when the contract’s predominant deliverable is inspection, testing, or laboratory services for chemical products rather than the supply of the chemicals themselves; selection is based on the predominant product or service in FPDS data element 8A. ¹

• Q: Does H368 include medical or clinical laboratory testing?
  A: No. The PSC Manual explicitly excludes medical and dental laboratory services from H368. Medical/clinical laboratory testing is classified under PSCs designated for medical laboratory services. ¹

• Q: Is there a standard NAICS mapping for H368?
  A: The PSC Manual and supplemental alignment resources provide guidance, but the narrative PSC entry does not prescribe a single NAICS; agencies should consult the PSC-to-NAICS alignment spreadsheet or the PSC Selection Tool for suggested mappings. Not specified by official sources ¹

• Q: How do FPDS environmental attributes interact with H368 reporting?
  A: When environmental attributes are relevant (recycled content, biobased, energy efficient, etc.), record those attributes in FPDS data element 8L while retaining H368 as the PSC in data element 8A if inspection/testing is the predominant activity. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC H368
• Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual (effective April 2025) ¹
• FPDS help and documentation (FPDS.gov) ²

References

1. Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual (April 2025), U.S. General Services Administration, Acquisition.gov: https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
2. FPDS Help and Documentation, FPDS.gov: https://www.fpds.gov/help/index.jsp