[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 130 (Tuesday, July 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 36585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17674]


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POSTAL SERVICE


Revised Publication 401, Guide to the Manifest Mailing System

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice presents pending revisions to the Postal Service's 
Publication 401, Guide to the Manifest Mailing System. This publication 
is the customer's and Postal Service's handbook for submitting and 
accepting manifest mailings. It has been updated and revised to reflect 
changes that have taken place in the last 4 years that affect the 
submission and acceptance of manifest mailings. The Postal Service 
expects the updated publication to be available this fall.
    To ensure that this publication continues to meet the needs of 
customers, the Postal Service is seeking comments from users of 
manifest mailing systems and developers of manifest software regarding 
the focus of the program revisions described in this notice.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 7, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to the 
Manager, Business Mail Acceptance, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 6801, 
Washington, DC 20260-6808. Copies of all written comments will be 
available at the above address for inspection and photocopying between 
9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Amonette, (317) 870-8246.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following information summarizes the 
most significant revisions.
    The language of Publication 401 is updated to reflect changes due 
to classification reform. The procedures, checklists, and forms are 
updated to enhance and expedite the processing of applications to 
manifest and the acceptance of manifest mailings. The Manifest Analysis 
and Certification (MAC) program, certifying vendor software for single-
piece rate manifests, is integrated into the manifest program to 
expedite the approval process.
    There is a change in the approval process. Systems that calculate 
postage for single-piece rate domestic mail without special services 
entered at the office where the mailings are verified will now be 
approved by district postal officials rather than by the rates and 
classification service centers (RCSCs). This change will expedite the 
application and approval process. All other systems will continue to 
require final approval by the RCSC serving the mailer's location. In 
conjunction with this, the application form is reduced from eight pages 
to three pages.
    Several new forms have been developed. A new postage statement, PS 
Form 3660, Combined Postage Statement for Manifest Mailings, makes it 
possible for mailers to pay postage for a manifest mailing of single-
piece rate mixed classes of domestic mail (e.g., Priority Mail, First-
Class Mail, and Parcel Post) on one postage statement, instead of 
having to report each individual class on a separate postage statement. 
A new sampling form will be used for recording the postage samplings 
for batch manifest mailings.
    All of the exhibits have been updated and enhanced, and 11 new 
manifest exhibits have been developed to present the information more 
clearly. Additional information is included about international mail 
manifests and manifests including pieces with special services.
    A change in the sampling procedure and postage error calculation 
for manifested piece/pound rate Standard Mail (A) makes the error 
calculation more accurate and equitable. It now compares actual postage 
amounts rather than weight amounts to determine the accuracy level.
    Another change affects the method of adjusting postage for mailings 
that are out of tolerance. To determine the accuracy of the postage 
claimed for a manifest mailing, the Postal Service randomly samples a 
specified number or percentage of pieces from the mailing and compares 
the postage claimed on the manifest with the actual postage. If there 
is a difference and the difference exceeds +/-1.5%, then the mailing is 
considered to be out of tolerance. Prior to publication of the July 
1993 edition of Publication 401, postage was adjusted up or down by the 
percentage out of tolerance and a 10% penalty was assessed when the 
mailing exceeded the accuracy tolerance. The 10% penalty was rescinded 
with implementation of the July 1993 version of Publication 401 and 
postage was only adjusted up or down by the percentage out of 
tolerance.
    The accuracy level of +/-1.5% is used to determine whether a 
mailer's system is functioning properly. If a mailer exceeds the limit 
frequently, it indicates that the mailer's system is not functioning 
properly and should be corrected. A revision in this version of 
Publication 401 eliminates the adjustment of postage downward if the 
accuracy level is lower than minus 1.5%. The Postal Service has found 
that far fewer than 1% of all manifest mailings nationwide require 
postage adjustment downward and believes that this change will not 
adversely impact manifest mailers because most such systems stay within 
the tolerance limits.
    Those systems that frequently need adjustments to ensure accurate 
postage payment need to be modified to meet the tolerance level. 
Frequent system reporting errors cause the mailer and the Postal 
Service to incur increased administrative costs. If a system regularly 
exceeds the tolerance levels, then the mailer and the Postal Service 
are required to sample more frequently. One of the key requirements for 
mailers authorized to mail under a MMS is the responsibility of 
ensuring the accuracy of the system. As with all mailing systems, the 
Postal Service will make allowances for those instances when a usually 
accurate system breaks down, and it can be shown that adjusting postage 
downward is justified. In those cases, the mailer can apply to the 
administering RCSC for a refund.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 97-17674 Filed 7-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P