[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 232 (Monday, December 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71642-71643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29066]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP2013-21; Order No. 1555]


New International Mail Contract

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service 
request to enter into an additional Global Reseller Expedited Package 
Services 3 contract. This document invites public comments on the 
request and addresses several related procedural steps.

DATES: Comments are due: December 6, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing 
Online system at http://www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit comments 
electronically should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section by telephone for advice on filing 
alternatives.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel, 
at 202-789-6820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Contents of Filing
III. Commission Action
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    Notice of filing. On November 26, 2012, the Postal Service filed a 
notice announcing that it is entering into an additional Global 
Expedited Package Services (GEPS) 3 contract (Contract).\1\ The Notice 
was filed in accordance with 39 CFR 3015.5. Notice at 1. The Postal 
Service seeks to have the instant Contract included within GEPS 3 
product on grounds of functional equivalence to a previously approved 
baseline agreement. Id. at 2.
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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, November 26, 2012 (Notice).
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    Background. Customers for GEPS contracts are small- or medium-sized 
businesses that mail products directly to foreign destinations using 
Express Mail International, Priority Mail International, or both. Id. 
at 4. The Commission added GEPS 1 to the competitive product list, 
based on Governors' Decision No. 08-7, by operation of Order No. 86. 
Id. at 1. It later approved the addition of GEPS 3 contracts to the 
competitive product list as a result of Docket Nos. MC2010-28 and 
CP2010-71.\2\ The Commission designated the contract filed in Docket 
No. CP2010-71 as the baseline agreement for purposes of establishing 
the functional equivalency of other agreements proposed for inclusion 
within the GEPS 3 product. Id. at 1-2.
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    \2\ See Docket Nos. MC2010-28 and CP2010-71, Order No. 503, 
Order Approving Global Expedited Package Services 3 Negotiated 
Service Agreement, July 29, 2010.
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II. Contents of Filing

    The filing includes a Notice, along with the following attachments:
     Attachment 1-a redacted copy of the instant contract;
     Attachment 2-a redacted copy of the certification required 
under 39 CFR 3015.5(c)(2);
     Attachment 3-a redacted copy of Governors' Decision No. 
08-7; and
     Attachment 4-an application for non-public treatment of 
material filed under seal.
    The material filed under seal consists of unredacted copies of the 
contract and supporting financial documents. Id. at 2. The Postal 
Service filed redacted versions of the sealed financial documents in 
public Excel spreadsheets.
    Functional equivalency. The Postal Service asserts that the instant 
Contract and the baseline contract are functionally equivalent because 
they share similar cost and market

[[Page 71643]]

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 further asserts that the 
functional terms of the two contracts are the same and the benefits are 
comparable. Id.
    The Postal Service states that prices may differ, depending on when 
an agreement is signed, due to updated costing information. Id. at 4. 
It also identifies other differences in contractual terms, but asserts 
that the differences do not affect either the fundamental service being 
offered or the fundamental structure of the contract.\3\ Id. at 4-6.
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    \3\ The list includes, among other things, deletion of an 
article that appears in the baseline contract, the addition of 
articles, and related renumbering of articles. See id. at 4-6.
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    Term. The term of the agreement is one calendar year (from the 
effective date), unless terminated sooner pursuant to contractual 
provisions. Id. Attachment 1 at 7. The effective date is tied to 
receipt of regulatory approval, but no later than 30 days after such 
approval. Id.

III. Commission Action

    The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2013-21 for consideration 
of matters raised in the Notice. Interested persons may submit comments 
on whether the Postal Service's contract is consistent with the 
requirements of 39 CFR 3015.5 and the policies of 39 U.S.C. 3632 and 
3633. Comments are due no later than December 6, 2012. The public 
portions of the Postal Service's filing can be accessed via the 
Commission's Web site at http://www.prc.gov. Information on how to 
obtain access to nonpublic material appears at 39 CFR 3007.40.
    The Commission appoints James F. Callow to represent the interest 
of the general public (Public Representative) in this case.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2013-21 for 
consideration of matters raised in the Postal Service's 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 proceeding.
    3. Comments are due no later than December 6, 2012.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Shoshana M. Grove,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-29066 Filed 11-30-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P