National Stock Number (NSN)

Federal Supply Groups (FSG)

The Federal Supply Group (FSG) is part of the Federal Supply Classification System, which was developed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense for use in classifying items of supply identified under the Federal Cataloging Program.

The Federal Supply Classification is a commodity classification designed to serve the functions of supply and is sufficiently comprehensive in scope to permit the classification of all items of personal property. In order to accomplish this, Federal Supply Groups and Federal Supply Classes have been established for the universe of commodities, with emphasis on the items known to be in the supply systems of the Federal Government.

Currently, there are 79 Federal Supply Groups, which are subdivided into Federal Supply Classes (FSCs).

The Federal Supply Group (FSG) identifies, by title, the commodity area covered by classes within the group. Each class covers a relatively homogeneous area of commodities, in respect to their physical or performance characteristics, or in the respect that the items included therein are such as are usually requisitioned or issued together, or constitute a related grouping for supply management purposes.

In most instances gaps have been left within each group, between the numbers assigned to adjacent classes, to permit the insertion of new classes in logical sequence, when necessary, because of technological advances or to accomplish other desirable additions and changes.

FEDERAL SUPPLY CLASSIFICATION (FSC)

The FEDERAL SUPPLY CLASSIFICATION (FSC) and its Indexes have been developed and adopted by the Office of the Secretary of Defense for use in classifying items of supply identified under the Federal Cataloging Program.
The FSC is a commodity classification designed to serve the functions of supply and is sufficiently comprehensive in scope to permit the classification of all items of personal property. In order to accomplish this, groups and classes have been established for the universe of commodities, with emphasis on the items known to be in the supply systems of the Federal Government.

The structure of the FSC, as presently established, consists of 78 groups, which are subdivided into 645 classes. The Federal Supply Group (FSG) identifies, by title, the commodity area covered by classes within the group. Each class covers a relatively homogeneous area of commodities, in respect to their physical or performance characteristics, or in the respect that the items included therein are such as are usually requisitioned or issued together, or constitute a related grouping for supply management purposes.

Groups 21, 27, 33, 50, 57, 64, 82, 86, 90, 92, 97, and 98 are currently unassigned.
The FSC utilizes a four-digit coding structure. The first two digits of the code number identify the group, and the last two digits of the code number identify the classes within each group. Code numbers are so assigned as to make it possible to expand the number of groups and classes as that becomes necessary.

In most instances gaps have been left within each group, between the numbers assigned to adjacent classes, to permit the insertion of new classes in logical sequence, when necessary, because of technological advances or to accomplish other desirable additions and changes. The primary application of the FSC code number is in the National Stock Number (NSN). The NSN for an item of supply consists of the applicable four-digit FSC code number plus the nine-digit National Item Identification Number (NIIN).