PSC Q401

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) system standardizes how the U.S. federal government classifies products and services procured through contracting. PSCs populate FPDS data element 8A to indicate what was bought, improving spend visibility, reporting, and category alignment; the PSC Manual is the authoritative maintenance and guidance source. ¹

PSC Q401 (Medical‑Nursing) is defined in the PSC Manual as the code for nursing personnel who provide direct patient care — including registered nurses, licensed practical/vocational nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, nursing/medical assistants, and case management roles tied specifically to patient care. The manual lists includes/excludes and points to adjacent medical PSCs for non‑clinical or specialty functions. ¹

• See also on G2X:
  • G2X — PSC Q401
  • G2X — PSC Q402
  • G2X — NAICS 561320

What this PSC covers

• Registered nurses (RNs) providing direct patient care.
• Licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/LVN) providing patient care.
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and Clinical Nurse Specialists.
• Nursing assistants and medical assistants engaged in patient care.
• RN/LPN case management and surgical case review when tied to direct care. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type | Code | Descriptor

• | - | - NAICS | 561320 | Temporary Help Services NAICS | 621111 | Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) NAICS | 623110 | Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) PSC | Q402 | Medical‑Nursing Home, Long‑Term, and Adult Day Care Services

• Federal award data show frequent pairing of NAICS 561320 with PSC Q401 in staffing/temporary nursing procurements. ²

• Award records also show NAICS 621111 used with PSC Q401 when physician‑office or clinic staffing models are reported. ³

• Contracts for institutional skilled‑nursing services sometimes record NAICS 623110 with PSC Q401 where nursing care is the predominant deliverable. ⁴

Coding notes for solicitations and awards

• When a requirement is labor‑centric and the predominant service is direct nursing care, select PSC Q401 in FPDS data element 8A; if the work is non‑clinical support (utilization management, referral management), use PSC Q701 instead. ¹
• If a single contract contains multiple medical services, code the award to the PSC that represents the predominant patient‑facing nursing work by dollar value or scope. Not specified by official sources ¹.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: When should a requirement be coded as PSC Q401 rather than another medical PSC?
  A: Use PSC Q401 when the contract’s primary deliverable is direct patient nursing care (RNs, LPNs/LVNs, APRNs, nursing assistants). Non‑clinical nursing roles and specialized medical support should use other PSCs such as Q701. ¹

• Q: What NAICS codes commonly appear with PSC Q401 in federal awards?
  A: Federal award records frequently pair PSC Q401 with NAICS 561320 (temporary help/staffing). Other observed NAICS include 621111 and 623110 depending on the service delivery model. ²

• Q: How does Q401 differ from Q402?
  A: PSC Q401 captures nursing personnel who deliver direct patient care; PSC Q402 covers nursing‑home, long‑term care, and adult day care programs where the facility or program is the primary scope. Consult the PSC Manual includes/excludes for borderline cases. ¹

• Q: Are there standard NAICS-to-PSC mappings for staffing contracts?
  A: There is no single mandated mapping; agencies report the NAICS that best describes the business activity (for example, 561320 for staffing) and the PSC that best describes the primary product/service (for example, Q401 for direct nursing). Check award examples for patterns. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC Q401 (internal code page)
• Product and Service Code Manual (PSC Manual, Apr 2025). ¹
• FPDS award examples showing NAICS 561320 with PSC Q401. ²

References

1. Product and Service Code Manual (PSC Manual, April 2025), U.S. General Services Administration (PDF). https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
2. FPDS ezSearch — award records showing NAICS 561320 paired with PSC Q401 (example search results), Federal Procurement Data System. https://www.fpds.gov/ezsearch/search.do?indexName=awardfull&q=PRINCIPAL_NAICS_CODE%3A561320+PSC%3AQ401
3. FPDS ezSearch — award records showing NAICS 621111 paired with PSC Q401 (example search results), Federal Procurement Data System. https://www.fpds.gov/ezsearch/search.do?indexName=awardfull&q=PRINCIPAL_NAICS_CODE%3A621111+PSC%3AQ401
4. FPDS ezSearch — award records showing NAICS 623110 paired with PSC Q401 (example search results), Federal Procurement Data System. https://www.fpds.gov/ezsearch/search.do?indexName=awardfull&q=PRINCIPAL_NAICS_CODE%3A623110+PSC%3AQ401