[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 75200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30487]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP2013-25; Order No. 1578]


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 international mail contract. This 
document invites public comments on the request and addresses several 
related procedural steps.

DATES: Comments are due: December 21, 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 December 12, 2012, the Postal Service filed a 
notice announcing that it is entering into an additional Global 
Expedited Package Services (GEPS) 3 contract (Agreement).\1\ The Notice 
was filed in accordance with 39 CFR 3015.5. Notice at 1. The Postal 
Service seeks to have the Agreement included within the 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, December 12, 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 Agreement;
     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 filedunder seal.
    The material filed under seal consists of unredacted copies of the 
Agreement 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 
Agreement 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 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 Agreement.\3\ Id.
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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. CP2013-25 for consideration 
of matters raised in the Notice. Interested persons may submit comments 
on whether the Agreement 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 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. Information on how to obtain access to nonpublic 
material appears at 39 CFR 3007.40.
    The Commission appoints Natalie R. Ward 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. CP2013-25 for 
consideration of matters raised in the Postal Service's Notice.
    2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission designates Natalie R. 
Ward 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 21, 2012.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Shoshana M. Grove,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-30487 Filed 12-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P