FY2025 obligations by the NAICS code on the award
79% of the $1.4B obligated under AJ12 in FY2025 went to awards coded NAICS 541715.
FY2025 federal contract obligations, USAspending.gov
PSC AJ12 is applied research under the general science and technology budget function: original investigation directed toward a specific practical aim, funded by the civilian science agencies, not by defense. FY2025 obligations were $1.38 billion, larger than its basic research sibling AJ11 by a comfortable margin.
A long tail behind one leader
Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences R&D (541715) took $1.08 billion, roughly 79 percent. What follows is instructive about how civilian science actually contracts: engineering services 541330 at $69 million, social sciences and humanities R&D 541720 at $60 million, All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541990) at $30 million, and 334515, Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals, at $28 million. Engineering support and scientific instrumentation are real components of an applied research code, not incidental to it.
PSC and NAICS, once
A PSC classifies the research the government funded; a NAICS code classifies the industry the contracting officer assigned to it.
For instrument makers this is a genuinely useful signal. Scientific instrumentation revenue can land inside an R&D services code rather than under a product code, which means an equipment vendor watching only the 6xxx product codes will not see it. Search AJ11 through AJ15 as a block if you sell into civilian science programs.
PSC AJ12 FAQ
What does PSC AJ12 cover?
Applied research under the general science and technology budget function: original investigation directed toward a specific practical objective, funded by civilian science agencies.
What NAICS codes win AJ12 work?
Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences R&D (541715) took $1.08 billion of $1.38 billion in FY2025, followed by Engineering Services (541330) at $69 million and social sciences R&D (541720) at $60 million.
Why does instrument manufacturing appear in an R&D services code?
Scientific instrumentation is often procured as part of a research program, not as a standalone product buy, so the obligation carries the R&D PSC and the manufacturer's NAICS code.
What are the other AJ codes?
AJ11 basic research, AJ12 applied research, AJ13 experimental development, AJ14 R&D administrative expenses, and AJ15 R&D facilities and major equipment.