[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 48 (Monday, March 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9736-9737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5585]



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POSTAL SERVICE


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Notice of computer matching program.

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SUMMARY: This document publishes notice that the Postal Service intends 
to conduct an internal computer matching program that compares its 
records about postal employees with records about vendors. The 
objective of this matching program is to identify instances where 
employees have attempted to corrupt the postal procurement process and 
defraud the Postal Service. This notice meets the requirements of 
subsection (e)(12) of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a, as 
amended by Pub. L. 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy 
Protection Act of 1988) that agencies publish notice of new matching 
programs.

DATES: Any interested party may submit written comments on this 
proposed matching program. The matching program will begin no sooner 
than April 22, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this proposal should be mailed or 
delivered to Payroll Accounting/Records, United States Postal Service, 
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 8650, Washington, DC 20260-5243. Copies of 
all written comments will be available at the above address for public 
inspection and photocopying between 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betty E. Sheriff, (202) 268-2608.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Subsection (e)(12) of the Privacy Act of 
1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy 
Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-503), requires agencies to publish 
notice of the establishment or revision of a computer matching program. 
Subsection (o) requires agencies to conclude a computer matching 
agreement containing the terms under which the new or revised matching 
program will be conducted. This document publishes notice of a matching 
program for which an agreement has been concluded.
    The Postal Service will conduct an internal agency match that 
compares records from a Privacy Act system of records and a grouping of 
records that is not subject to the Privacy Act. Under those 
circumstances, the match does not constitute a matching program subject 
to the computer matching provisions of the Privacy Act. Nevertheless, 
the Postal Service is conducting the matching program under those 
provisions because of potentially adverse consequences to some postal 
employees.
    This new computer matching program identifies postal employees who 
have improperly exercised their influence to direct postal contract 
awards or other purchases to companies owned and operated by 
themselves, family members, or others. In addition, this matching 
program identifies any employees who are involved in financial conflict 
of interest, fraud, misrepresentation, or other situations in violation 
of Postal Service standards of conduct. Where records match, limited 
information is provided from employee and vendor records to the Postal 
Inspection Service, which then conducts an examination to determine any 
impropriety. A previous computer matching program, conducted for the 
same purpose, resulted in refinement of the matching and tracking 
process and the detection of contracts awarded in conflict with postal 
policy. Set forth below is the notice of the establishment of a 
computer matching program.

Notice of an Internal Computer Matching Program--United States Postal 
Service (Internal Agency Match of Payroll File With Vendor File)

    A. Participating Agencies: The United States Postal Service is the 
only participant in this computer matching program, which compares two 
internal records files.
    B. Purpose of the Match: This computer matching program identifies 
postal employees who have improperly exercised their influence to 
direct postal contract awards or other purchases to companies owned and 
operated by 

[[Page 9737]]
themselves, family members or others. The matching program identifies 
employees who are involved in financial conflict of interest, fraud, 
misrepresentation, or other situations in violation of Postal Service 
standards of conduct.
    C. Authority for Conducting the Match: Sections 401 and 404 of 
title 39, United States Code, grant the Postal Inspection Service the 
power to conduct civil and criminal investigations of violations of 
postal laws, including attempts to corrupt the postal procurement 
process and defraud the Postal Service. This computer matching program 
is also consistent with the Inspection Service's Inspector General 
authority to address fraud, waste, and abuse in the agency.
    D. Records to be Matched: This computer matching program involves 
one Privacy Act system of records, ``USPS 050.020, Finance Records--
Payroll System,'' which was most recently published in its entirety in 
the Federal Register on December 4, 1992 (57 FR 57517-57518) and 
amended in the Federal Register on November 22, 1993 (58 FR 61718-
61719). That system contains Postal Service employee data that are 
compared with data in the Postal Service's vendor payment files (these 
files relate to businesses and, therefore, are not covered by the 
Privacy Act). Matches are made on the basis of like expanded ZIP Codes. 
For each hit (matched 9-digit ZIP Codes), the employee's name, address, 
social security number, occupation, and pay location are extracted from 
the payroll file; the vendor's name, address, vendor number, account 
number, finance number, year-to-date amount paid, and most recent 
payment date are extracted from the vendor file.
    E. Description of Computer Matching Program: A match of nine-digit 
ZIP Codes indicates whether the employee's home address and the 
vendor's address are the same physical geographical location. No 
adverse action is taken based solely on such a match; the match merely 
indicates a need for further review to determine whether investigation 
is warranted. Review includes an identification of the transaction and 
examination of procurement files, employee records, and/or information 
from other sources from which verification of identity and compliance 
with postal procurement policy can be made. Where review indicates 
potential misconduct, case files may be established within the 
parameters of USPS 080.010, Inspection Requirements--Investigative File 
System (last published in its entirety in the Federal Register on March 
20, 1991 (56 FR 11798-11805)). Where it is established that misconduct 
is present, administrative disciplinary action and/or prosecution may 
be initiated. However, no such action may be taken until the individual 
has received notice of adverse findings and has been given an 
opportunity to contest them, as required by Pub. L. 100-503.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 96-5585 Filed 3-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P