PSC V229

Overview

The Product Service Code (PSC) system provides a standardized taxonomy the U.S. federal government uses to classify purchased products and services for procurement reporting and spend analysis. PSC entries appear in FPDS/SAM and are maintained via the PSC Manual and related governance processes. The PSC entry V229 represents purchases of transit or public-transport fare media and associated commuter-benefit or distribution services (employee transit benefits, commuter fare-media distribution, electronic fare media/cards, card issuance, etc.). Agencies assign V229 when the obligation funds fare media or fare-benefit administration rather than payment for transportation carriage. ¹

• See also on G2X:
  • PSC V229 overview: https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/V229
  • PSC family (V2xx transport/travel group): https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/V2xx

What this PSC covers

• Procurement of transit fare media — paper tickets, preloaded passes, and electronic fare cards used by employees or program participants.
• Employer-sponsored commuter benefit and transit subsidy distribution and program support.
• Fare-management services: card issuance, activation, preloading, and distribution workflows.
• Administration and reporting services directly tied to passenger-transit benefits (not carriage, routing, or scheduled transit operations). ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

(Note: each numeric code above links to its G2X entry for quick cross-reference.)

Common procurement contexts

• Employee commuter-benefit programs — bulk purchase and distribution of passes or preloaded cards to support agency transit subsidies. ¹
• Overseas posts and diplomatic missions — procuring local transit passes or stored-value cards for mission staff movement. ¹
• Interagency or programmatic incentives — agencies funding fare media for participants in travel-reduction or mobility programs. ¹

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What does the PSC V229 represent on an award?
  A: V229 denotes procurement of transit or public-transport fare media and closely related distribution or administration services (for example, buying passes, issuing smart cards, or managing commuter-subsidy distribution). Use V229 to classify obligations for fare media in FPDS/SAM. ¹

• Q: Which NAICS codes commonly appear with V229 on solicitations or awards?
  A: Typical NAICS pairings include 485111 (mixed-mode transit systems), 485119 (other urban transit systems), and 561510 (travel agencies); selection depends on whether the award is to a transit provider, authority, or a travel-management firm. ¹

• Q: When should a contracting officer select V229 instead of a passenger-transport PSC?
  A: Select V229 when the primary requirement is fare media, card issuance, or commuter-benefit administration. If the primary requirement is carriage, charter, or transport services, select the applicable passenger-transport PSC instead. Follow PSC Manual guidance and local acquisition policy for final classification. ¹

• Q: Are there standard contract vehicles or ordering patterns for V229 work?
  A: V229 obligations show up on both agency-specific solicitations and interagency instruments (IDVs, task orders) when agencies fund commuter-benefit programs or make bulk fare-media purchases. Specific vehicle choice depends on agency acquisition strategy, scope, and locality. ¹

Useful resources

• PSC V229 overview (G2X): https://app.g2xchange.com/psc/V229
• Product and Service Code Manual — Acquisition.gov ¹
• Product Service Code (PSC) Tool — Federal Acquisition Institute (PSC Tool) ²

References

1. Product and Service Code Manual, Acquisition.gov — https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
2. Product Service Code (PSC) Tool overview, Federal Acquisition Institute — https://www.fai.gov/content/product-service-code-psc-tool