[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 36 (Monday, February 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10206-10207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03891]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP2014-28; Order No. 1991]


New Postal Product

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing 
concerning the addition of International Business Reply Service 
Competitive Contract 3 negotiated service agreement to the competitive 
product list. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites 
public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: February 26, 2014.

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: Brian Corcoran, Acting General 
Counsel, at 202-789-6820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Postal Service Filing
III. Commission Action
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On February 14, 2014, the Postal Service filed notice pursuant to 
39 CFR 3015.5 announcing that it has entered into an additional 
International Business Reply Service Competitive Contract 3 (IBRS 3) 
negotiated service agreement (Agreement).\1\ The Agreement is the 
successor agreement to the contract previously approved in Docket No. 
CP2013-50.\2\ The Postal Service seeks to have the Agreement included 
within the existing IBRS 3 product on grounds of functional equivalence 
to the baseline agreement filed in Docket Nos. MC2011-21 and CP2011-
59.\3\
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    \1\ Notice of the United States Postal Service Filing of a 
Functionally Equivalent International Business Reply Service 
Competitive Contract 3 Negotiated Service Agreement, February 14, 
2014 (Notice).
    \2\ Docket No. CP2013-50, Order No. 1668, Order Approving New 
International Business Reply Service Competitive Contract 3 
Agreement, February 25, 2013.
    \3\ Id. at 3. See also, Docket Nos. MC2011-21 and CP2011-59, 
Order No. 684, Order Approving International Business Reply Service 
Competitive Contract 3 Negotiated Service Agreement, February 28, 
2011.
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II. Postal Service Filing

    Background. The Postal Service filed its Notice, along with four 
attachments, pursuant to 39 CFR 3015.5. The attachments consist of:
     Attachment 1--a redacted version 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

[[Page 10207]]

substantially similar to the baseline agreement filed in Docket Nos. 
MC2011-21 and CP2011-59 because it shares similar cost and market 
characteristics and meets criteria in Governors' Decision No. 08-24 
concerning attributable costs. Notice at 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. It states 
that prices offered under the Agreement may differ due to volume or 
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 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. Id.
    Effective date; term. The contract previously approved in Docket 
No. CP2013-50 is set to expire February 28, 2014 and the intended 
effective date for the Agreement is March 1, 2014. Id. at 3. The 
Agreement will remain in effect for two calendar years, unless 
terminated sooner pursuant to contractual terms. Id., Attachment 1 at 
4.

III. Commission Action

    The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2014-28 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 26, 2014. 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 3007.40.
    The Commission appoints Curtis E. Kidd to serve as Public 
Representative in the captioned proceeding.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2014-28 for 
consideration of matters raised in the Postal Service Notice.
    2. Comments by interested persons in this proceeding are due no 
later than February 26, 2014.
    3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Curtis E. 
Kidd 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. 2014-03891 Filed 2-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P