[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58185-58186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23110]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP2012-56; Order No. 1464]


New Postal Product

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service 
request to add a Global Expedited Package Services contract to the 
competitive product list. This notice addresses procedural steps 
associated with the filing.

DATES: Comments are due: September 21, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically by accessing the ``Filing 
Online'' link in the banner at the top of the Commission's Web site 
(http://www.prc.gov) or by directly accessing the Commission's Filing 
Online system at https://www.prc.gov/pre-pages/filing-online/login.aspx. Commenters who cannot submit their views electronically 
should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section as the source for case-related information for advice 
on alternatives to electronic filing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel, 
at 202-789-6820 (case-related information) or [email protected] (for 
electronic filing assistance).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Commission Action
III. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    Notice of filing. On September 11, 2012, the Postal Service filed a 
notice announcing that it is entering into an additional Global 
Expedited Package Services (GEPS) 3 contract.\1\ The Notice was filed 
in accordance with 39 CFR 3015.5. Notice at 1.
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    \1\ Notice of United States Postal Service of Filing a 
Functionally Equivalent Global Expedited Package Services 3 
Negotiated Service Agreement and Application for Non-Public 
Treatment of Materials Filed Under Seal, September 11, 2012 
(Notice).
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    Background. Customers for GEPS contracts are small- or medium-size 
businesses that mail products directly to foreign destinations using 
Express Mail International, Priority Mail International, or both. Id. 
at 4. Governors' Decision No. 08-7 (as GEPS 1) established prices and 
classifications not of general applicability for GEPS contracts. Id. at 
1. A grouping for GEPS 3 contracts was later added to the competitive 
product list as an outcome of Docket Nos. MC2010-28 and CP2010-71. The 
contract filed in Docket No. CP2010-71 is the baseline agreement for 
purposes of establishing whether subsequent agreements proposed for 
inclusion within the GEPS 3 grouping are functionally equivalent. Id. 
at 1-2.
    Contents of filing. The filing includes a Notice, along with the 
following attachments:
     Attachment 1-redacted copy of the instant contract;
     Attachment 2-the redacted certification required under 39 
CFR 3015.5(c)(2);
     Attachment 3-redacted copy of Governors' Decision No. 08-7 
(including attachments thereto); and
     Attachment 4-application for non-public treatment of the 
materials filed under seal.
    It also includes material filed under seal (consisting of the 
contract and supporting documents); and Excel spreadsheets as to 
supporting financial data and information.
    In the Notice, the Postal Service asserts that the instant contract 
and the baseline contract are functionally equivalent because they 
share similar cost and market characteristics. Id. at 3. It notes that 
the pricing formula and classification established in the Governors' 
Decision No. 08-7 ensure that each GEPS contract meets the criteria of 
39 U.S.C. 3633 and related regulations. Id. The Postal Service 
identifies differences between the instant contract and the baseline 
contract, but asserts that the differences do not affect either the 
fundamental service being offered or the fundamental structure of the 
contract. Id. at 3-6. The Postal Service also addresses pertinent Mail 
Classification Schedule matters. Id. at 3. It states that, based on the 
discussion in its Notice and the financial data provided under seal, 
the instant GEPS 3 contract is in compliance with the requirements of 
39 U.S.C. 3633 and is functionally equivalent to the baseline contract, 
and therefore should be added to the GEPS 3 product grouping.

[[Page 58186]]

    Expiration. The agreement is set to expire 1 year after the Postal 
Service notifies the customer that all necessary approvals and reviews 
of the agreement have been obtained, including a favorable conclusion 
by the Commission. Id.

II. Commission Action

    The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2012-56 for consideration 
of matters raised in the Notice. Interested persons may submit comments 
on whether the Postal Service's contract is consistent with the 
policies of 39 U.S.C. 3632 and 3633. Comments are due no later than 
September 21, 2012. The public portions of the Postal Service's filing 
can be accessed via the Commission's Web site at http://www.prc.gov.
    The Commission appoints James F. Callow to represent the interest 
of the general public (Public Representative) in this case.

III. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2012-56 for 
consideration of matters raised in the Postal Service's September 11, 
2012 Notice.
    2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission designates James F. 
Callow to serve as an officer of the Commission (Public Representative) 
to represent the interests of the general public in this case.
    3. Comments by interested persons are due no later than September 
21, 2012.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Ruth Ann Abrams,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-23110 Filed 9-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P