PSC B542: Special Studies/Analysis – Educational
B542 is the product and service code (PSC) federal agencies use for “Special Studies/Analysis – Educational”, in the “Special Studies – Not R and D” 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
- 1
- Federal contract spending, FY2025
- $29.8 million
- Share of contract dollars to small businesses, since FY2024
- 14%
Open count as of Oct 28, 2026, 5:43 PM ET. The search counts live, so its total can differ by a notice or two.
Open PSC B542 contracts with 2+ days to respond
- What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Online Study Review Guide (OSRG)
✦ This is a sources sought notice (market research), not a request for quotes: the U.S. Department of Education's Contracts and Acquisitions Management office, for the Institute of…
Due in 13 daysNov 10, 2026, 10:00 AM EST
Where B542 sits in the PSC Manual
- Category: Service
- Group B: Special Studies/Analysis, Not R&D
- Group B5: Special Studies – Not R and D
- Code B542: Special Studies/Analysis – Educational
NAICS codes used with PSC B542
The NAICS code on a contract sets the size standard for who counts as small. These are the codes agencies pair with B542 most often:
| NAICS | Industry | Spent, last 3 years | Open with PSC B542 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 541611 | Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services | $66.4 million | 1 |
| 541720 | Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $54.3 million | — |
| 541219 | Other Accounting Services | $40.6 million | — |
| 541511 | Custom Computer Programming Services | $15.4 million | — |
| 541613 | Marketing Consulting Services | $4.6 million | — |
| 541618 | Other Management Consulting Services | $4.1 million | — |
Open contracts under each code, with any PSC: NAICS 541611 · NAICS 541720 · NAICS 541219 · NAICS 541511 · NAICS 541613 · NAICS 541618
Who buys under PSC B542
Agencies with the most contract dollars under B542 over the last three fiscal years, per USAspending.gov. Each name links to that agency's open contracts and buying history:
| Agency | Obligated |
|---|---|
| Department of Education | $158.5 million |
| National Science Foundation | $17.5 million |
| Department of State | $4.2 million |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | $3.5 million |
| Department of Defense Education Activity | $3 million |
| U.S. Geological Survey | $2.9 million |
| Department of the Air Force | $2.6 million |
| Food and Drug Administration | $769,398 |
Federal spending under PSC B542 by year
| Fiscal year | Contract obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | $115.8 million |
| FY2025 | $29.8 million |
| FY2026 (incomplete) | $49.9 million |
Headline figures use FY2025, the last complete year. FY2026 is still incomplete and will rise until about early January 2027 as Defense data arrives: USAspending.gov publishes Defense contracts 90 days after they're signed.
Who wins PSC B542 contracts
| Company | Obligated, last 3 years |
|---|---|
| Research Triangle Institute | $60.3 million |
| Applied Enterprise Management Corporation | $44.7 million |
| Westat, Inc. | $23.7 million |
| National Opinion Research Center | $12.4 million |
| American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences | $10.7 million |
| Sanametrix Inc | $4.7 million |
| Decision Information Resources, Inc | $4.5 million |
| General DynamicsListed as General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. | $4.1 million |
| Bevera Solutions LLC | $3.5 million |
| College Entrance Examination Board | $3 million |
Linked names have a FedReady profile, which shows the NAICS codes a business is registered as small under. Most large companies have none.
Large prime contractors (companies that hold the contract with the agency) subcontract part of their work to small businesses. See which primes subcontract, by NAICS code.
Research PSC B542 work
By the NAICS codes this work goes with, the one with the most spending first: who won recently, contracts ending soon, agencies' planned buys and the large primes that subcontract it, nationwide. Each code shows only the pages that exist for it:
- 541611 Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services: who won recently · contracts ending in the next 12 months · planned buys · large primes that subcontract
- 541720 Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities: who won recently · planned buys · large primes that subcontract
- 541219 Other Accounting Services: who won recently · planned buys · large primes that subcontract
Related PSC codes
- B502 Special Studies/Analysis – Air Quality
- B503 Special Studies/Analysis – Archeological/Paleontological
- B504 Special Studies/Analysis – Chemical/Biological
- B505 Special Studies/Analysis – Cost Benefit
- B506 Special Studies/Analysis – Data (Other Than Scientific)
- B507 Special Studies/Analysis – Economic
- B509 Special Studies/Analysis – Endangered Species: Plant/Animal
- B510 Special Studies/Analysis – Environmental Assessments
- B513 Special Studies/Analysis – Feasibility (Non-Construction)
- B516 Special Studies/Analysis – Animal/Fisheries
Frequently asked questions
What is PSC B542?
B542 is the service code in the federal Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual named “Special Studies/Analysis – Educational”, under B (Special Studies/Analysis, Not R&D) and B5 (Special Studies – Not R and D). 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 B542?
Most federal contract dollars under PSC B542 go with NAICS 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services), 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 B542?
Contract opportunities are posted on SAM.gov with their PSC and NAICS codes. 1 open notice uses PSC B542 right now. FedReady can match new ones to your business and email you, free.
Keep going
Sources: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities, USAspending.gov and the PSC Manual. How we count.