PSC H389

Overview

The Product and Service Code (PSC) system is the federal standard for categorizing products and services acquired by the U.S. Government. PSC codes populate transaction records (for example, FPDS/SAM entries), support spend analysis and reporting, and are maintained through the PSC Manual published on Acquisition.gov ¹.

PSC H389 — Inspection‑Subsistence identifies inspection, testing, and related commercial laboratory services tied to subsistence (food) items. The PSC Manual lists H389 under the inspection category and records that these codes typically include commercial testing and laboratory services relevant to subsistence; the manual does not expand technical scopes beyond that description ¹.

See also on G2X:

• https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/H389
• https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/H989
• https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/H289

What this PSC covers

• Commercial testing and laboratory services for subsistence (food) items. ¹
• Physical inspection of subsistence products for condition and packaging. Not specified by official sources ¹.
• Sampling and analytical testing of perishable and nonperishable foodstuffs. Not specified by official sources ¹.
• Quality-assurance and acceptance testing used to verify contract specifications for subsistence. Not specified by official sources ¹.
• Issuance of inspection certificates, reports, or test results related to subsistence items. Not specified by official sources ¹.

Related NAICS and PSC codes

An authoritative, one-to-one NAICS-to-PSC crosswalk for H389 is not published in the PSC Manual; the manual does not provide a formal NAICS mapping for this specific 4‑digit PSC. Not specified by official sources ¹.

Inspection practice (optional)

• Inspection-at-destination for perishable subsistence may be appropriate when testing equipment or freshness criteria require evaluation at delivery; FAR 46.403 describes circumstances when destination inspection is typical for perishable subsistence ².
• Agency-level rules for subsistence inspection (for example, acceptance criteria, inspection procedures, and use of designated inspecting activities) are addressed in agency supplements and regulations such as VAAR 846.408-70, which specifies contracting officer obligations for subsistence inspection ³.

Frequently asked questions

• What activities are explicitly included in PSC H389?
  The PSC Manual indicates H389 covers inspection services for subsistence and explicitly notes inclusion of commercial testing and laboratory services; the manual does not add detailed task-level examples ¹.

• When should contracting officers select H389 in FPDS?
  Select H389 when the principal procurement is inspection, testing, or laboratory services specifically tied to subsistence items and those services represent the primary purpose or value of the action. FPDS guidance requires selecting the code that best identifies the procured product or service ⁴.

• Do FAR rules treat subsistence inspection differently?
  FAR 46.403 and related agency supplements recognize perishable subsistence as a category where destination inspection is commonly used; agencies may impose additional inspection, certification, or acceptance procedures in solicitations ².

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC H389 overview (G2X internal link).
• Product and Service Code Manual (PSC Manual April 2025). ¹
• FAR Subpart 46.4 and FAR 46.403 — Government contract quality assurance at destination (perishable subsistence inspection guidance). ²
• VAAR 846.408-70, Inspection of subsistence (agency supplement guidance). ³
• FPDS‑NG data dictionary / PSC guidance (FPDS reference for recording PSC in transactions). ⁴

References

1. Product and Service Code Manual (PSC Manual April 2025). https://www.acquisition.gov/content/psc-manual-april-2025.pdf
2. FAR 46.403, Government contract quality assurance at destination. https://www.acquisition.gov/far/46.403
3. VAAR 846.408-70, Inspection of subsistence. https://www.acquisition.gov/vaar/846.408-70-inspection-subsistence
4. FPDS‑NG Data Dictionary (V1.4) — PSC, NAICS and related guidance. https://www.fpds.gov/wiki/index.php/V1.4_FPDS-NG_Data_Dictionary