PSC U010

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) system is the federal standard for classifying goods and services in government procurement records; PSCs are recorded in FPDS (data element 8A) and are published and maintained through the PSC Manual on Acquisition.gov to support consistent tracking, reporting, and analysis of federal spending.¹
The PSC entry U010 — Education/Training‑ Certifications/Accreditations for Educational Institutions — identifies acquisitions for certification or accreditation services aimed at educational institutions. The official entry explicitly excludes information‑technology certifications and accreditations, and is used for institutional and program‑level, non‑IT certification and accreditation services supporting academic institutions.¹

• See also on G2X:
  • G2X — PSC U010
  • G2X — PSC U008 (Training/Curriculum Development)
  • G2X — PSC U012 (Information Technology/Telecommunications Training)

What this PSC covers

• Institutional accreditation services and assessments for schools, colleges, and other educational institutions.¹
• Certification program development and validation for academic offerings (non‑IT programs).¹
• Accreditation compliance reviews and gap analyses to support institutional readiness.¹
• Preparation and management of accreditor site visits, documentation, and supporting materials.¹
• Liaison and reporting services between institutions and accrediting bodies, including submission coordination.¹
• Program‑level certification support for academic programs where the effort is not information‑technology related.¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Official government crosswalks linking U010 to specific NAICS codes or alternate PSCs are not specified by the PSC Manual or FPDS guidance.¹

Coding guidance (optional)

• Enter the predominant PSC in FPDS data element 8A when a contract contains multiple services; select the code that best represents the primary product or service procured.¹
• When an acquisition is primarily an information‑technology certification or accreditation, do not code under U010; code to the applicable IT PSC per the PSC Manual.¹

Exclusions and notes (optional)

• The PSC Manual explicitly excludes information‑technology certifications and accreditations from U010; IT certification work must be coded under the appropriate IT PSC series.¹
• FPDS and PSC Manual guidance emphasize selecting the PSC that represents the predominant deliverable or service when multiple items are present; use judgment based on objective contract scope and dollar value.¹

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What services should be coded to PSC U010?
  A: Services that provide certification or accreditation for educational institutions — institutional accreditation assessments, compliance reviews, preparation for accreditor reviews, and liaison/reporting services — are coded to U010.¹

• Q: Are information‑technology certifications included under U010?
  A: No. The PSC Manual excludes information‑technology certifications and accreditations from U010; IT certification/accreditation work should be coded to the applicable IT PSC per the manual.¹

• Q: How should a contracting officer choose between multiple PSCs on a mixed contract?
  A: FPDS directs that the PSC entered in data element 8A should reflect the predominant product or service being purchased; select the code representing the primary objective or highest dollar value in the contract.¹

• Q: Where is the official PSC definition for U010 published?
  A: The official PSC catalog entry and guidance for U010 are published in the PSC Manual on Acquisition.gov; that manual is the authoritative source for PSC assignments and exclusions.¹

Useful resources

• G2X — PSC U010 (concise overview and links)
• Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual (Acquisition.gov — PSC Manual April 2025).¹
• Overview of accreditation in the United States (U.S. Department of Education).²

References

1. Product and Service Code Manual (PSC Manual April 2025). Acquisition.gov. https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
2. Overview of Accreditation in the United States. U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation.html