PSC R410

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) system standardizes how the U.S. federal government classifies goods and services acquired through contract actions. PSCs are recorded in FPDS/SAM to describe what was purchased, support spending analysis and reporting, and are maintained and published in the PSC Manual on Acquisition.gov. ¹

PSC R410 is designated "Support- Professional: Program Evaluation/Review/Development." It identifies professional services that focus on assessing program performance, reviewing program design or implementation, or developing program-level plans and evaluation products. The PSC Manual separates this work from program management, acquisition support, and other professional support categories to improve consistency in contracting records and spend analytics. ¹

What this PSC covers

• Program evaluation services, including performance assessment, outcomes analysis, and impact measurement. ¹
• Program review and audit-style assessments that examine program design, effectiveness, or compliance. ¹
• Program development support tied to planning, redesign, implementation strategy, or logic-model development. ¹
• Design of evaluation frameworks, performance metrics, and data-collection strategies. ¹
• Preparation of evaluation reports, recommendations, dissemination plans, and implementation roadmaps. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Source: PSC Manual. ¹

When to use R410 (optional)

Agencies should assign PSC R410 when the predominant work procured is professional evaluation, formal program review, or development of program-level plans, evaluations, or metrics. If the primary task is ongoing program management, operational oversight, or tasks that are primarily acquisition/contracting support, agencies should choose the PSC that best matches that dominant service (for example, R408 for program management/support). Use the PSC that represents the main purpose of the contract action. ¹

Typical contract activities coded R410 (optional)

Common activities assigned to PSC R410 include baseline program studies, independent evaluations tied to statute or appropriation requirements, development of outcome and performance measures, meta-analyses of program results, and drafting actionable program-improvement plans with timelines and resource implications. The Manual groups these functions under the R4 professional support services family to improve reporting consistency. ¹

Frequently asked questions

• What is the formal name of PSC R410 and where is it recorded?

  • PSC R410 is listed as "Support- Professional: Program Evaluation/Review/Development." Active PSCs and their definitions are published in the PSC Manual on Acquisition.gov. ¹

• Where is the PSC entered on a contract action record?

  • The Product or Service Code is reported in FPDS data element 8A ("Product or Service Code"); agencies should select the PSC that represents the predominant product or service being purchased on the action. ²

• How does R410 differ from program management PSCs?

  • R410 covers professional services that evaluate, review, or develop programs. Ongoing program management labor, sustained program administration, or staffing to run a program is assigned to PSCs such as R408, per the Manual distinctions. ¹

• Can a single contract include multiple PSCs if it has mixed work?

  • Yes. If an action includes multiple distinct products or services, FPDS allows reporting of the predominant PSC in 8A and additional PSCs where appropriate under other reporting elements; select the PSC(s) that best reflect the contract’s deliverables and funding lines. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC R410
• PSC Manual (Product and Service Codes Manual — definitive code definitions). ¹
• FPDS-NG Data Dictionary — Product or Service Code (data element 8A) and reporting guidance. ²

References

1. PSC Manual (Product and Service Codes Manual), Acquisition.gov — definitive definitions and PSC guidance: https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202024.pdf

2. FPDS-NG Data Dictionary — Product or Service Code (data element 8A) and related reporting guidance: https://www.fpds.gov/wiki/index.php/V1.4_FPDS-NG_Data_Dictionary