[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 95 (Monday, May 18, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28635-28637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09834]
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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. RM2026-5 and K2026-232; Order No. 9570]
Streamlined Negotiated Service Agreement Review and New Postal
Product
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Commission is acknowledging a recent Postal Service filing
requesting the Commission initiate a rulemaking to support the
establishment of a new non-published rates product, Global Expedited
Package Services--Non-Published Rates 18 to the Competitive product
list. This document invites public comment on the advance review
portion of the Postal Service's filing and takes other administrative
steps.
DATES: Comments are due: May 19, 2026.
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: David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at
202-789-6820.
[[Page 28636]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Postal Service Petition
III. Notice and Comment
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
I. Introduction
On May 11, 2026, the Postal Service filed a petition to initiate a
proceeding for a streamlined option rulemaking to support the
establishment of a new non-published rates (NPR) product, Global
Expedited Package Services--Non-Published Rates 18 (GEPS--NPR 18), and
its request to add GEPS--NPR 18 to the Competitive product list,
pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3633 and 3642, and 39 CFR 3035.105, 3041.205, and
3041.320.\1\
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\1\ Petition of the United States Postal Service for the
Initiation of a Streamlined-Option Rulemaking Concerning a Request
to Add Global Expedited Package Services--Non-Published Rates 18
(GEPS--NPR 18) to the Competitive Products List, Including a
Proposal for a GEPS--NPR 18 Model Contract Template and an
Application for Non-Public Treatment of Materials Filed Under Seal,
May 11, 2026 (Petition). The Postal Service also concurrently filed
Library Reference USPS-RM2026-5-NP1. Notice of the United States
Postal Service of Filing USPS-RM2026-5-NP1, May 11, 2026.
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II. Postal Service Petition
Background. The Commission adopted rules for streamlined option
rulemakings in Docket No. RM2023-5 to ``address elements of 39 U.S.C. [
] 3642 review and 39 U.S.C. [ ] 3633 pre-implementation review that are
broadly applicable to qualifying [negotiated service agreements
(NSAs)], and not particular to individual qualifying NSAs.'' \2\
Specifically, such proceedings are used to establish eligibility
criteria specifying the ways in which qualifying NSAs will be permitted
to vary from existing offerings, to review a proposed financial model
for qualifying NSAs that accounts for the financial impact of any such
variations, and to establish minimum rates for qualifying NSAs. Order
No. 7353 at 4.
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\2\ Docket No. RM2023-5, Final Order Amending Rules Regarding
Competitive Negotiated Service Agreements, August 9, 2024, at 4
(Order No. 7353).
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Streamlined option rulemaking. In accordance with 39 CFR
3041.205(c), the Postal Service submitted proposed Mail Classification
Schedule (MCS) changes, a supporting financial model, and the minimum
rates for GEPS--NPR 18. Petition at 1, 3-4. The Postal Service states
that GEPS--NPR 18 offers discounts for Priority Mail Express
International (PMEI), Priority Mail International (PMI), and First-
Class Package International Service (FCPIS). Id. at 3. The Postal
Service asserts that the financial model for GEPS--NPR 18 includes
minimum rates that demonstrate compliance with 39 U.S.C. 3633, 39 CFR
3035.105, 3041.205(c)(1), and 3041.205(d). Id.
NPR NSAs. Requests to add conforming NPR NSA products to the
Competitive product list are reviewed in public proceedings. See Order
No. 7353 at 5. If an NPR NSA product is approved, one or more included
contracts using an approved contract template may be subsequently added
to the product without requiring further approval from the Commission.
See 39 CFR 3041.320(h).
The Postal Service states that the GEPS--NPR 18 contract template
is ``very similar'' to the GEPS--NPR 17 contract template that the
Commission reviewed in Order Nos. 8864 and 8923.\3\ However, the Postal
Service specifically identifies the following differences: (1) the
addition of paragraphs (c) and (d) in Article 10, ``which include
additional obligations of the Mailer in relation to postage payment
through an Enterprise Payment Account under Option B,'' (2) the
addition of a few words in Article 35 ``concerning the period of time
for certain document retention,'' (3) ``the addition of terms specific
to postage payment through an Enterprise Payment Account under Option
B'' in Article 37 concerning fraud, and (4) the deletion of one word
before ``Agreement--Tables'' in the footer of Tables 1-3 in the GEPS--
NPR 18 contract template. Petition at 7-8. The Postal Service states
that it discusses how the changes to Articles 10 and 37 comply with 39
CFR 3041.320(f) in Attachment 3. Id. at 8. The Postal Service also
states that ``[t]he major differences between GEPS--NPR 18 and GEPS--
NPR 17 are in the Management Analysis, the financial model, and the
rates.'' Id.
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\3\ Id. at 7 (citing Docket Nos. RM2025-8 and K2025-1321, Order
Authorizing Streamlined Review for Global Expedited Package Services
(GEPS)--Non-Published Rates 17 (GEPS--NPR 17), Adding GEPS--NPR 17
to the Competitive Product List, and Providing Further Guidance, May
29, 2025 (Order No. 8864); Docket Nos. RM2025-8 and K2025-1321,
Order Conditionally Granting Motion for Waiver and Approving Amended
Contract Template for Global Expedited Package Services (GEPS)--Non-
Published Rates 17, June 20, 2025 (Order No. 8923)).
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Supporting materials. The Postal Service filed the following
materials in support of its Petition: (1) a proposed financial model
that includes minimum rates for GEPS--NPR 18; (2) Attachment 1, an
application for non-public treatment of materials filed under seal; (3)
Attachment 2A, Governors' Decision No. 19-1; (4) Attachment 2B,
proposed revisions to MCS section 2510.8 Global Expedited Package
Services (GEPS)--Non-Published Rates in legislative format; (5)
Attachment 2C, the Management Analysis for GEPS--NPR 18, which provides
a narrative explanation of how, in the Postal Service's view, the
proposed financial model complies with statutory and regulatory
requirements; (6) Attachment 2D, a sworn statement of a Postal Service
executive required by 39 CFR 3041.320(e)(9); (7) Attachment 3, which
explains why, in the Postal Service's view, the Petition is in
accordance with 39 CFR 3041.205 and 3041.320; and (8) Attachment 4, the
GEPS--NPR 18 contract template. Id. at 3-6; see id. Attachments 1-4.
III. Notice and Comment
The Commission establishes Docket Nos. RM2026-5 and K2026-232 for
consideration of matters raised by the Petition. Interested persons may
submit comments. Comments are due no later than May 19, 2026. More
information on the proceedings may be accessed via the Commission's
website at https://www.prc.gov.
Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Samuel Robinson is designated as an
officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to represent the
interests of the general public in these proceedings. The Public
Representative does not represent any individual person, entity or
particular point of view, and, when Commission attorneys are appointed,
no attorney-client relationship is established.
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket Nos. RM2026-5 and K2026-232
for consideration of the matters raised by the Petition of the United
States Postal Service for the Initiation of a Streamlined-Option
Rulemaking Concerning a Request to Add Global Expedited Package
Services--Non-Published Rates 18 (GEPS--NPR 18) to the Competitive
Products List, Including a Proposal for a GEPS--NPR 18 Model Contract
Template and an Application for Non-Public Treatment of Materials Filed
Under Seal, filed May 11, 2026.
2. Comments by interested persons are due no later than May 19,
2026.
3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Samuel
Robinson to serve as an officer of the Commission (Public
Representative) to represent the interests of the general public in
these dockets.
4. This order, or abstract thereof, shall be published in the
Federal Register.
[[Page 28637]]
By the Commission.
Ashley Demchak,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison.
[FR Doc. 2026-09834 Filed 5-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P