PSC M2BZ

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) schema standardizes how the U.S. federal government classifies goods and services in procurement records (for example, FPDS/SAM) to support consistent reporting, analysis, and market management; the PSC Manual defines and maintains the codes and assignment guidance. ¹

PSC M2BZ is the service-level code under Category M2 (Operation of Ships, Small Crafts, Pontoons and Floating Docks) labeled HUSBANDING SERVICES—OTHER PORT SERVICES. The PSC Manual describes M2BZ as covering port support functions such as pilotage, tugs, fenders/brows, berthing and line handlers, potable water services, port-entry/clearance facilitation, cranes and forklifts, and related short-term port services; FPDS award records commonly pair husbanding PSCs with NAICS 488310 (Port and Harbor Operations). ²

What this PSC covers

• Pilotage and pilotage coordination.
• Tug and tow services for berthing and unberthing.
• Brows, fenders, barges, and berthing equipment.
• Line handling and mooring support.
• Provisioning of potable/portable water and associated waste removal related to a port call.
• Port entry/clearance, customs and immigration facilitation, and quarantine handling.
• Port cargo-handling equipment (cranes, forklifts) and associated short-term services.

Source: PSC Manual definitions for M2 category and M2BZ. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	488310	Port and Harbor Operations
PSC	M2CA	Ship Husbanding Services—Management/Integration Service
PSC	M2AA	Husbanding Services—Communications Services

FPDS award records and the PSC Manual show frequent associations between husbanding PSCs and port/harbor NAICS reporting. ²

Typical contract contexts

• Short-duration port-call task orders or purchase orders supporting a single ship visit (logistics, berthing coordination, fueling coordination, port clearances). Not specified by official sources for every possible context; guidance and examples appear in FPDS reporting. ²
• Integrated husbanding program awards where a single contractor supplies multiple husbanding functions; these often use M2CA for management/integration and may report multiple PSCs for discrete services. ¹

Reporting & FPDS coding notes

• The FPDS data element 8A (Product or Service Code) must use a valid PSC from the PSC Manual; when multiple services exist on one contract, the PSC representing the predominant dollar value should be entered. ³
• FPDS award records show federal use of M2BZ alongside NAICS 488310 in naval husbanding awards and delivery orders. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What activities are explicitly listed under PSC M2BZ?
  The PSC Manual explicitly lists pilotage, tug services, brows/fenders, barges, berthing, line handling, potable water provisioning, cranes and forklifts (short-term), customs and immigration facilitation, quarantine handling, and port-entry/clearance functions under M2BZ. ¹

• How should a contracting officer choose between M2BZ and M2CA?
  Use M2CA when the requirement is for a single integrated husbanding management/integration service (a managed program); use M2BZ for discrete port services as listed in the PSC Manual. ¹

• Which NAICS code commonly appears with husbanding PSCs in FPDS records?
  FPDS award records commonly pair husbanding PSCs with NAICS 488310 (Port and Harbor Operations), particularly in Navy and maritime support actions. Use FPDS searches to confirm historical reporting patterns. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC M2BZ overview: https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/M2BZ
• PSC Manual (current edition, April 2025 PDF). ¹
• FPDS-NG ezSearch (award records demonstrating PSC usage patterns). ²
• FPDS-NG Data Dictionary — Product or Service Code (element 8A). ³

References

1. Product and Service Code Manual, April 2025 (PDF). https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf.
2. FPDS-NG ezSearch / FPDS portal. https://www.fpds.gov/ezsearch/fpdsportal.
3. V1.4 FPDS‑NG Data Dictionary — Product or Service Code (8A). https://www.fpds.gov/wiki/index.php/V1.4_FPDS-NG_Data_Dictionary.