PSC K038

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) system standardizes how the U.S. government describes products and services purchased through federal contracting. PSCs are used in FPDS and SAM entries to classify acquisitions for tracking, reporting, and analysis; guidance on PSC usage and classification appears in the Acquisition.gov Business Zone. ²

PSC K038 — MODIFICATION OF EQUIPMENT- CONSTRUCTION, MINING, EXCAVATING, AND HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT — is the four-character service code assigned where the primary contract purpose is modification or alteration of construction, mining, excavating, and highway-maintenance machinery and related equipment. The PSC Manual groups K038 within Category K (Modification of Equipment) and directs its use in FPDS when modification (distinct from installation, maintenance, or overhaul) is the principal work. ¹

See also on G2X:

• PSC K038
• PSC J038
• PSC N038

What this PSC covers

• Heavy-equipment structural modification and retrofits.
• Attachment or implement redesigns (for example, buckets, rippers, milling heads).
• Powertrain or hydraulic system alterations specific to equipment function.
• Control-system or operator‑station upgrades tied to equipment capability.
• Frame, chassis, or undercarriage alterations that change equipment performance.
• Custom fabrication to adapt equipment for site- or mission-specific tasks. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type | Code | Descriptor

• | - | - PSC | J038 | MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, AND REBUILDING OF EQUIPMENT- CONSTRUCTION, MINING, EXCAVATING, AND HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT PSC | L038 | TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE- CONSTRUCTION, MINING, EXCAVATING, AND HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT PSC | N038 | INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT- CONSTRUCTION, MINING, EXCAVATING, AND HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT

Source: PSC Manual. ¹

Usage in FPDS and reporting

Agencies assign K038 to contract actions in FPDS when the predominant work is modification of the listed equipment categories; FPDS records therefore show K038 across multiple agencies where equipment capability changes are procured. Reporting practice and PSC selection guidance are governed by the PSC Manual and FPDS data-entry rules. ³

Frequently asked questions

• Q: When should a contracting action use PSC K038 rather than a maintenance PSC?

  A: Use K038 when the principal effort is modification or alteration that changes function, capability, or configuration of construction, mining, or highway equipment; routine maintenance, repair, or rebuilding should use the corresponding maintenance PSC, for example J038. ¹

• Q: Does K038 apply to software or controls added to heavy equipment?

  A: Software or control-system changes that materially modify equipment function and are the contract’s primary purpose are reported under K038. If the contract is mainly software maintenance or routine updates, a different PSC may be appropriate. ¹

• Q: Are installation and technical‑representative actions under the same code?

  A: No. Installation and technical‑representative services have separate PSCs; for example, installation actions use N038 and technical representatives use L038. Selection depends on the primary work type reported in FPDS. ¹

• Q: Is there an official NAICS mapped to K038 for set‑asides or size determinations?

  A: Not specified by official sources ¹

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC K038 overview
• Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Codes (PSC) Manual ¹
• Acquisition.gov — Business Zone (PSC guidance) ²
• Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) — Home ³

References

1. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Codes (PSC) Manual. https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
2. Acquisition.gov — Business Zone (Product and Service Codes guidance). https://www.acquisition.gov/content/business-zone
3. Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). https://www.fpds.gov