NAICS vs. PSC Codes: What's the Difference?

If you're new to GovCon, NAICS and PSC codes can blur together. They answer different questions - and using both makes your market research far sharper.

NAICS describes your industry

NAICS codes classify the industry a business operates in. They drive small-business size standards and signal your core line of work in SAM.gov. Each solicitation has one primary NAICS code.

PSC describes what's being bought

Product and Service Codes describe the specific product, service, or R&D being procured. Letter-leading PSCs are services; numeric PSCs are products. They let you filter opportunities down to exactly what you deliver.

Use them together

• Find your NAICS codes to confirm size standards and set-aside eligibility.
• Use PSCs to narrow opportunities to your precise offering.
• Search past awards by both to map your competitors and the buying agencies.

Browse the NAICS and PSC directories to find your codes and see live contracts under each.