PSC M2AB

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) system is a standardized four-character taxonomy the U.S. federal government uses to classify goods and services in procurement records. PSCs support obligational reporting in FPDS and award displays in SAM; authoritative descriptions, codes and rules are maintained in the PSC Manual on Acquisition.gov. ¹

PSC M2AB — Husbanding Services—Force Protection — is a Ship Husbanding category introduced to classify force-protection-related husbanding tasks supporting port visits. The M2-series husbanding PSCs were added to FPDS effective March 17, 2020 as part of the PSC rollout and system release that populated FPDS with the new codes. ²

See also on G2X:

• PSC M2AB
• PSC M2CA
• PSC M2BZ

What this PSC covers

• Security-guard services for vessel and pier protection
• Picket boats and waterfront patrol craft
• Demarcation and floating-perimeter systems (barriers, buoys)
• Portable detection and screening equipment (metal detectors, X-ray machines)
• Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) diving and render‑safe support
• Physical barriers and on‑shore force‑protection materiel ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type | Code | Descriptor

• | -: | -
• NAICS | 488310 | Port and Harbor Operations
• PSC | M2CA | Ship Husbanding Services—Management/Integration Service
• PSC | M2BZ | Husbanding Services—Other Port Services

Mappings and usage examples are reflected in FPDS award records and the M2-series PSC rollout documentation. ²

Procurement context

• Husbanding awards that include force-protection line items are commonly coded with NAICS 488310 when the primary industry is port-and-harbor operations; prime contracts and task orders may carry multiple PSCs for different husbanding subservices. ²
• Navy logistics and supply contracting activities (NAVSUP and Fleet Logistics Centers), Military Sealift Command, and other DoD maritime-support buyers frequently obligate M2AB-coded line items on husbanding task orders and delivery orders supporting U.S. naval vessel port visits. ⁴

Frequently asked questions

• What does PSC M2AB specifically denote?
  PSC M2AB denotes husbanding (ship–port-visit) services whose scope is force protection — security guards, patrol craft, screening, barriers, and related EOD/diver tasks — as described in the PSC Manual and in the FPDS rollout documentation. ¹

• Which NAICS is commonly paired with M2AB on awards?
  Awards using M2AB are frequently paired with NAICS 488310 (Port and Harbor Operations) for port-visit husbanding work; FPDS records and rollout guidance show this common pairing on multiple Navy husbanding orders. ²

• When was M2AB added to FPDS and where is that documented?
  The M2-series husbanding PSCs, including M2AB, were added to FPDS effective March 17, 2020; release notes and FPDS documentation for that system update record the effective date and new code list. ²

• Are there legal or contract-execution precedents that illustrate scope disputes for husbanding services?
  Civil and government actions involving ship-husbanding performance and billing have been publicized; for example, a Department of Justice press release describes a case involving alleged overcharging on Navy ship-husbanding services and the scope elements at issue. ³

Useful resources

• PSC M2AB (G2X)
• PSC Manual (authoritative PSC descriptions and rules) ¹
• FPDS system release / PSC rollout notes (M2-series addition) ²
• DOJ press release (example case concerning husbanding services) ³

References

1. PSC Manual, Acquisition.gov — authoritative PSC descriptions and rules, https://www.acquisition.gov/PSC_Manual.
2. FPDS system release and PSC rollout notes (M2‑series addition), FPDS Wiki / release documentation, https://www.fpds.gov/wiki/index.php/V1.5_SP_6.0.
3. United States Department of Justice — press release: “United States settles lawsuit alleging contractor falsely overcharged U.S. Navy ship husbanding,” https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/united-states-settles-lawsuit-alleging-contractor-falsely-overcharged-us-navy-ship-husbanding.
4. NMCARS subparts and NAVSUP contracting material (example guidance on contracting authorities and responsibilities), Acquisition.gov NMCARS, https://www.acquisition.gov/nmcars/subpart-5201.6-career-development-contracting-authority-and-responsibilities.