PSC H988

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) system is the federal standard for classifying products and services procured by U.S. government agencies. PSCs are used in FPDS/SAM reporting to enable consistent tracking, analysis, and reporting of federal spending; the PSC Manual and related PSC files are published and maintained on Acquisition.GOV.¹

The PSC H988 (Other Quality Control, Testing, and Inspection‑ Live Animals) is an H‑series “other” category applied to contracting actions that procure quality control, testing, or inspection services specifically related to live animals. The official PSC files list the descriptor but do not provide an exhaustive task inventory; specific scope is determined by solicitations and agency statements of work.²

What this PSC covers

• Quality control services for live animals as categorized in the PSC Manual.²
• Testing services (diagnostic, health, or materials testing connected to live animals).²
• Inspection services (pre‑transport, entry, or condition inspections tied to live animals).²
• Other ancillary QC/test/inspection activities related to live animals not captured by more specific H‑series codes.²
• Agency‑defined deliverables that implement the H988 descriptor within individual solicitations. Not specified by official sources.¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
PSC	H188	Quality Control‑ Live Animals
PSC	H288	Equipment And Materials Testing‑ Live Animals
PSC	H388	Inspection‑ Live Animals
PSC	H988	Other Quality Control, Testing, and Inspection‑ Live Animals

(Entries reflect the PSC Manual grouping of live‑animal H‑series codes; specific crosswalks to NAICS are determined by agency practice and the solicitation’s primary effort.)²

Procurement considerations

• PSC selection: Use the most specific H‑code practicable; H988 functions as a catch‑all for live‑animal QC/test/inspection tasks not covered by more specific codes. Not specified by official sources.¹
• Solicitation language: Statements of work should define test methods, inspection criteria, biosafety requirements, animal‑welfare compliance, and reporting deliverables because the PSC descriptor alone does not prescribe operational requirements. Not specified by official sources.¹
• Data reporting: Awards reported in FPDS use PSCs to categorize procurement; PSC assignment does not by itself determine NAICS or set‑aside applicability—those determinations are made per the solicitation and agency policy. Not specified by official sources.¹

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What exact services must be procured under H988?
  A: The PSC Manual provides the descriptor "Other Quality Control, Testing, and Inspection‑ Live Animals" but does not list a detailed task inventory; individual solicitations and agency SOWs define exact services, deliverables, and technical requirements.²

• Q: How does H988 differ from H288 or H388?
  A: H288 is labeled for equipment and materials testing and H388 for inspection‑live animals; H988 serves as the “other” category for QC/test/inspection activities not covered by those specific entries.²

• Q: Are there standardized NAICS crosswalks for H988?
  A: The PSC Manual and PSC files list descriptors but do not mandate a single NAICS mapping for H988; NAICS selection is driven by the solicitation’s primary effort and agency practice. Not specified by official sources.¹

• Q: Where do I confirm the authoritative PSC descriptor and current PSC list for H988?
  A: Consult the official PSC Manual landing page and the published PSC code files on Acquisition.GOV for the authoritative descriptor and the current PSC spreadsheets.¹

Useful resources

• H988 on G2X — PSC H988 overview
• Acquisition.GOV — Product and Service Code Manual (PSC manual landing page).¹
• Acquisition.GOV — PSC April 2025 (spreadsheet of current PSC codes and descriptors).²

References

1. Acquisition.GOV — Product and Service Code Manual (PSC manual landing page). https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual.
2. Acquisition.GOV — PSC April 2025 spreadsheet (current PSC codes and descriptors). https://www.acquisition.gov/content/psc-april-2025.xlsx.