United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office General Government Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1996-06-25 monographic deposited born digital 39 p. GA 1.13:GGD-96-126 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-126 P0b002ee1803971b5 f:gg96126 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-126 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-126 GGD-96-126 Human resources utilization Postal rates Government sponsored enterprises Losses Internal controls Risk management USPS Coding Accuracy Support System USPS National Bulk-Rate Mail Verification Program USPS National Bulk Mail System Letter Report GGD Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Postal Service's (USPS) controls over postage paid on presorted and barcoded mail, focusing on whether USPS controls ensure that mailer-claimed discounts are earned.<p/>GAO found that during fiscal year 1994: (1) 40 percent of required bulk mail verifications were not performed and postal supervisors did less than 50 percent of required follow-up verifications; (2) rejected mailings were resubmitted and accepted into the mailstream without proper corrections or postage; (3) mail acceptance clerks were not given adequate tools to determine whether increasing volumes of mailer-applied barcodes met USPS standards; and (4) postal management was unable to make informed decisions concerning the adequacy of bulk mail acceptance controls or determine the amount of revenue lost through improperly prepared mailings. GAO also found that: (1) USPS needs to determine the management strategy and financial investment necessary to minimize revenue loss; (2) the random method of selecting bulk business mailings for in-depth verification may not result in the best use of available staff; (3) USPS could better target its verification efforts based on risk by considering such factors as mailer histories and the postage value of mailings; (4) postal managers are developing a bulk business mail acceptance system, updating acceptance handbooks, acquiring barcoding verification equipment, and requesting field units to submit verification reports; and (5) USPS is also exploring a new risk-based approach for in-depth verification, improving revenue controls, and planning to install its new bulk mail system by 1997. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-126/html/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-126.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-126/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-126.pdf GAO/GGD-96-126 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-126 Letter Report GAO/GGD-96-126; U.S. Postal Service: Stronger Mail Acceptance Controls Could Help Prevent Revenue Losses; Human resources utilization Postal rates Government sponsored enterprises Losses Internal controls Risk management USPS Coding Accuracy Support System USPS National Bulk-Rate Mail Verification Program USPS National Bulk Mail System