By Outrider Editorial Team · Updated August 20, 2026
PSC AC15 is stage five for the Department of Defense military subfunction: expenses for the purchase, construction, manufacture, rehabilitation, or major improvement of physical assets necessary to execute an R&D program, plus acquisition, design, or production of major movable equipment used in R&D. The manual sets a threshold, citing OMB Circular A-11 section 84.3(a) for programs of $1 million or more, and excludes construction of ordinary office space and minor equipment purchases such as personal computers and simple instruments, which should be reported under a product PSC instead. FY2025 obligations were $1.39 billion.
Equipment more than buildings
Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences R&D (541715) took $554 million, then 336412, Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing, at $293 million, 334511, Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing, at $204 million, 336413 at $135 million, and engineering services 541330 at $70 million. Engine test articles and instrumentation dominate. Compare AR15, the space equivalent of the same stage, where industrial building construction ranks third and the profile is far more construction-heavy.
The two systems in one line
The PSC on the award is the buyer's word for what was bought; the NAICS code is the seller's word for its own industry.
Firms that build test stands, ranges, and instrumented facilities should treat the stage-five codes as a distinct market.
NAICS crosswalk
Where FY2025 AC15 dollars landed, by the winning vendor's registered NAICS code.
- 336412Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing$292.5M
- 541330Engineering Services$69.9M
FY2025 federal contract obligations, USAspending.gov
Frequently Asked
PSC AC15 questions, answered.
What does PSC AC15 cover?
R&D facilities and major equipment for the DoD military subfunction: construction, rehabilitation, or major improvement of physical assets required to run an R&D program, and acquisition of major movable research equipment.
What NAICS codes win AC15 work?
Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences R&D (541715) at $554 million leads, followed by Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing (336412) at $293 million and instrument manufacturing (334511) at $204 million.
Is there a dollar threshold for stage five?
The manual cites OMB Circular A-11 section 84.3(a) and refers to programs of $1 million or more devoted to purchasing or constructing R&D major equipment.
What is excluded from AC15?
Construction of ordinary facilities such as office space, and minor equipment purchases like personal computers, standard microscopes, and simple spectrometers, which the manual routes to product PSCs.
Watch AC15 opportunities
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