[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11699-11700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03662]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP2013-50; Order No. 1655]


International Mail Contract

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing 
concerning a successor International Reply Service Competitive Contract 
3 Negotiated Service Agreement. This notice informs the public of the 
filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: February 20, 2013.

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:

[[Page 11700]]

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Contents of Filing
III. Notice of Proceeding
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On February 11, 2013, the Postal Service filed a notice pursuant to 
39 CFR 3015.5 announcing that it has entered into an additional 
International Business Reply Service (IBRS) Competitive Contract 3 
negotiated service agreement (Agreement).\1\ It seeks to have the 
Agreement included within the existing IBRS Competitive Contract 3 
product on grounds of functional equivalence to the baseline agreement 
filed in Docket No. CP2011-59.\2\ Notice at 3-4.
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    \1\ Notice of United States Postal Service Filing of a 
Functionally Equivalent International Business Reply Service 
Competitive Contract 3 Negotiated Service Agreement, February 11, 
2013 (Notice).
    \2\ See Docket Nos. MC2011-21 and CP2011-59 (based on Governors' 
Decision No. 08-24), Order No. 684, Order Approving International 
Business Reply Service Competitive Contract 3 Negotiated Service 
Agreement, February 28, 2011.
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II. Contents of Filings

    Agreement. The Postal Service states that the Agreement is the 
successor to the agreement included in the IBRS Competitive Contract 3 
product in Docket No. CP2012-16. Id. at 3.
    The Postal Service filed the following material in conjunction with 
its Notice, along with public (redacted) versions of supporting 
financial information:
     Attachment 1--a redacted copy of the Agreement;
     Attachment 2--a certified statement required by 39 CFR 
3015.5(c)(2);
     Attachment 3--a redacted copy of Governors' Decision No. 
08-24; and
     Attachment 4--an application for non-public treatment of 
materials filed under seal.
    Functional equivalency. The Postal Service asserts that the 
Agreement is functionally equivalent to the baseline agreement filed in 
Docket No. CP2011-59 because it shares similar cost and market 
characteristics and meets criteria in Governors' Decision No. 08-24 
concerning attributable costs. Id. at 3-4. The Postal Service further 
asserts that the functional terms of the Agreement and the baseline 
agreement are the same and the benefits are comparable. Id. at 4. It 
states that prices offered under the Agreement may differ due to 
postage commitments and when the Agreement is signed (due to updated 
costing information), but asserts that these differences do not alter 
the functional equivalency of the Agreement and the baseline agreement. 
Id. at 4-5. The Postal Service also identifies differences between the 
terms of the two agreements, but asserts that these differences do not 
affect the fundamental service being offered or the fundamental 
structure of the Agreement.\3\ Id.
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    \3\ Differences include a new sentence in Article 15 and an 
additional Article 30. Id. at 5.
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III. Notice of Proceeding

    The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2013-50 for consideration 
of matters raised by the Postal Service's 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 February 20, 2013. The public 
portions of this filing can be accessed via the Commission's Web site, 
http://www.prc.gov. Information on how to obtain access to material 
filed under seal appears in 39 CFR 3007.50.
    The Commission appoints James F. Callow to serve as Public 
Representative in the captioned proceeding.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2013-50 for 
consideration of the matters raised by the Postal Service's Notice.
    2. Comments by interested persons in this proceeding are due no 
later than February 20, 2013.
    3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints James F. 
Callow to serve as an officer of the Commission (Public Representative) 
to represent the interests of the general public in this docket.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

By the Commission.
Shoshana M. Grove,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-03662 Filed 2-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P