PSC AC32: National Defense R&D Services; Defense – Related Activities; Applied Research
AC32 is the product and service code (PSC) federal agencies use for national defense r&d services; defense – related activities; applied research, in the r&d – ships 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
- 7
- Spending, FY2026
- $5.6 billion
- Share to small businesses
- 17%
Open contracts with PSC AC32, due soonest
- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT: Operational Analysis, SSN/SSGN Survivability Program (S3P), and Hull, Mechanical and Electrical (HM&E) Materials, Design Concepts, and Technologies for Future Submarine Platforms
✦ NAVSEA (the Navy's ship-systems command) has an open-ended Broad Agency Announcement, which is a call for research ideas rather than a normal bid.
Due in 22 daysNov 1, 2026
- Aircraft Defensive Electro-optical Protection Technologies (ADEPT)
✦ The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio wants research and engineering help to build and test ways to protect U.S. aircraft from infrared and other…
Due in 30 daysNov 9, 2026
- TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Heat Pipe Reactor Fire Mitigation and Suppression System
Due in 71 daysDec 20, 2026
- Resilient Open & Agile Avionics System & Technology Development (ROAASTD)
✦ The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Sensors Directorate is seeking research and development in resilient, open and agile avionics systems.
Due in 558 daysApr 19, 2028
- TACTICAL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)
✦ The Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate has a five-year Broad Agency Announcement (BAA, an open call for research ideas) called TACTICAL covering laser…
Due in 774 daysNov 22, 2028
- Golden Dome for America Commercial Solutions Opening
✦ The Golden Dome for America office in the Department of Defense is running an open Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO, a flexible way to buy new technology) to find vendors who…
Due in 1635 daysApr 2, 2031
Where AC32 sits in the PSC Manual
- Category: Research and Development
- Group AC: C – National Defense R&D Services
- Group AC3: R&D – Ships
- Code AC32: National Defense R&D Services; Defense – Related Activities; Applied Research
NAICS codes used with PSC AC32
The NAICS code on a contract sets the size standard for who counts as small. These are the codes agencies pair with AC32 most often:
| NAICS | Industry | Spent, last 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| 541715 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | $17.5 billion |
| 541712 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (Except Biotechnology) | $673.1 million |
| 336411 | Aircraft Manufacturing | $526.1 million |
| 541713 | Research and Development in Nanotechnology | $346.5 million |
| 541380 | Testing Laboratories and Services | $138.2 million |
| 541330 | Engineering Services | $101.3 million |
| 334511 | Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing | On 1 open |
| 541990 | All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | On 1 open |
Who buys under PSC AC32
Agencies with the most contract dollars under AC32 over the last three fiscal years, per USAspending.gov:
| Agency | Obligated |
|---|---|
| Department of the Air Force | $11.6 billion |
| Department of the Navy | $4.1 billion |
| Department of the Army | $2.5 billion |
| Federal Acquisition Service | $968.1 million |
| Defense Threat Reduction Agency | $225.4 million |
| Defense Information Systems Agency | $201 million |
| U.S. Special Operations Command | $147.4 million |
| Defense Microelectronics Activity | $74.7 million |
On open notices right now, the most AC32 work comes from Dept of Defense and Department of Energy.
Federal spending under PSC AC32 by year
| Fiscal year | Contract obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | $6.9 billion |
| FY2025 | $7.4 billion |
| FY2026 | $5.6 billion |
| FY2027 (so far) | $0 |
Who wins PSC AC32 contracts
| Company | Obligated, last 3 years |
|---|---|
| The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC | $2.2 billion |
| The Mitre Corporation | $2.1 billion |
| KBR Wyle Services, LLC | $1.7 billion |
| Booz Allen Hamilton Inc | $1.6 billion |
| Hii Mission Technologies Corp | $1.5 billion |
| Mantech TSG-2 Joint Venture | $1.1 billion |
| Caci, Inc. - Federal | $931.1 million |
| The Pennsylvania State University | $786.8 million |
| Deloitte Consulting LLP | $617.2 million |
| Lockheed Martin Corporation | $524.3 million |
Related PSC codes
- AC31 National Defense R&D Services; Defense – Related Activities; Basic Research
- AC33 National Defense R&D Services; Defense – Related Activities; Experimental Development
- AC34 National Defense R&D Services; Defense – Related Activities; R&D Administrative Expenses
- AC35 National Defense R&D SVCS; Defense – Related Activities; R&D Facilities & Maj Equip
- AC36 R&D – Defense System: Ships (Management/Support)
- AC37 R&D – Defense System: Ships (Commercialized)
Frequently asked questions
What is PSC AC32?
AC32 is the research and development code in the federal Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual for national defense r&d services; defense – related activities; applied research, under AC (C – National Defense R&D Services) and AC3 (R&D – Ships). 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 AC32?
Most federal contract dollars under PSC AC32 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 AC32?
Contract opportunities are posted on SAM.gov with their PSC and NAICS codes. 7 open notices use PSC AC32 right now. FedReady can match new ones to your business and email you, free.