PSC AC12: National Defense R&D Services; Department of Defense – Military; Applied Research
AC12 is the product and service code (PSC) federal agencies use for national defense r&d services; department of defense – military; applied research, in the r&d – aircraft group. Here are the contracts open under it now, the NAICS codes it pairs with, and who buys and wins this work.
- Open contracts now
- 71
- Spending, FY2026
- $3.1 billion
- Share to small businesses
- 55%
Open contracts with PSC AC12, due soonest
- Advanced Requirements Characterization Engineering and Representation (ARCHER) utilized for Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Offboard Mission Support (OMS)
✦ Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division is running a Sources Sought (market research, not a solicitation) for engineering, analysis and program management support to the F-35…
Due in 7 daysOct 17, 2026
- Advanced Requirements Characterization Engineering and Representation (ARCHER) utilized for Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Offboard Mission Support (OMS)
✦ Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division is doing market research (Sources Sought) for follow-on engineering, analysis and program support services for the F-35 Mission Planning…
Due in 8 daysOct 18, 2026
- 2026 MXO Spark Tank Special Notice
Due in 9 daysOct 19, 2026
- Resilient
✦ DARPA's Defense Sciences Office wants research teams to build a portable machine that ages concrete samples more than 1,000 times faster than nature, plus a computer model that…
Due in 9 daysOct 19, 2026
- Protein ENGineering (PENG)
✦ DARPA's Defense Sciences Office wants teams to build a platform that can edit existing (endogenous) proteins inside living cells, without permanently changing DNA. It is a…
Due in 9 daysOct 19, 2026
- SCO Offensive Fires - Solicitation
Due in 12 daysOct 21, 2026
Where AC12 sits in the PSC Manual
- Category: Research and Development
- Group AC: C – National Defense R&D Services
- Group AC1: R&D – Aircraft
- Code AC12: National Defense R&D Services; Department of Defense – Military; Applied Research
NAICS codes used with PSC AC12
The NAICS code on a contract sets the size standard for who counts as small. These are the codes agencies pair with AC12 most often:
| NAICS | Industry | Spent, last 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| 541715 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | $8.3 billion |
| 541990 | All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $509.9 million |
| 541712 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (Except Biotechnology) | $359.4 million |
| 336414 | Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing | $315.2 million |
| 541330 | Engineering Services | $225 million |
| 541714 | Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) | $136.3 million |
| 332993 | Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing | On 2 open |
Who buys under PSC AC12
Agencies with the most contract dollars under AC12 over the last three fiscal years, per USAspending.gov:
| Agency | Obligated |
|---|---|
| Department of the Air Force | $3 billion |
| Department of the Navy | $2.8 billion |
| Department of the Army | $2.2 billion |
| Federal Acquisition Service | $818.8 million |
| Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency | $803.8 million |
| Washington Headquarters Services | $568.1 million |
| Immediate Office of the Secretary of Defense | $214.2 million |
| Defense Microelectronics Activity | $37 million |
Federal spending under PSC AC12 by year
| Fiscal year | Contract obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | $3.6 billion |
| FY2025 | $3.8 billion |
| FY2026 | $3.1 billion |
| FY2027 (so far) | $-272,680 |
Who wins PSC AC12 contracts
| Company | Obligated, last 3 years |
|---|---|
| Institute for Defense Analyses | $481.9 million |
| Raytheon Company | $319.7 million |
| Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. | $230.3 million |
| University of Dayton | $229.4 million |
| Innovative Defense Technologies, LLC | $166.3 million |
| Bluehalo, LLC | $137.2 million |
| American Electronic Warfare Associates, Incorporated | $132.9 million |
| The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC | $132.6 million |
| Linquest Corporation | $125.5 million |
| Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation | $120 million |
Related PSC codes
- AC11 National Defense R&D Services; Department of Defense – Military; Basic Research
- AC13 National Defense R&D Services; Department of Defense – Military; Experimental Development
- AC14 National Defense R&D Services; Department of Defense – Military; R&D Administrative Expenses
- AC15 National Defense R&D SVCS; Department of Defense – Military; R&D Facilities & Maj Equip
- AC16 R&D – Defense System: Aircraft (Management/Support)
- AC17 R&D – Defense System: Aircraft (Commercialized)
Frequently asked questions
What is PSC AC12?
AC12 is the research and development code in the federal Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual for national defense r&d services; department of defense – military; applied research, under AC (C – National Defense R&D Services) and AC1 (R&D – Aircraft). Agencies put a PSC on every contract to record what they bought.
What is the difference between a PSC and a NAICS code?
A PSC describes what the government is buying. A NAICS code describes the industry of the business doing the work, and it sets the SBA size standard for small business set-asides. Every contract notice has both.
Which NAICS code goes with PSC AC12?
Most federal contract dollars under PSC AC12 go with NAICS 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)), according to USAspending.gov. The contracting officer picks the NAICS code for each solicitation, so check the notice.
How do I find contracts that use PSC AC12?
Contract opportunities are posted on SAM.gov with their PSC and NAICS codes. 71 open notices use PSC AC12 right now. FedReady can match new ones to your business and email you, free.