Effective January 22, 2012, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 705.15, which includes pending standards changes related to combined mailings of Standard Mail® and Periodicals flats, scheduled for implementation on January 22.
The Postal Service initially published these standards in the article “DMM Revision: Combined Mailings of Standard Mail and Periodicals Flats” in Postal Bulletin 22321 (10-6-11, pages 18–22) and as a final rule Federal Register notice on June 28, 2011 (75 FR 37655–37659), and has subsequently received requests for clarification of some aspects of the new mailing program. In response, the Postal Service provides these revised standards to address the inquiries by mailers and software providers.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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700 Special Standards
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705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems
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15.0 Combining Standard Mail Flats and Periodicals Flats
15.1 Basic Standards
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15.1.9 Other Periodicals Pricing
Other prices for Periodicals flats in a combined mailing of Standard Mail and Periodicals flats on pallets will be assessed as follows:
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[Add a new 15.1.9c and d as follows:]
c. The bundle price applicable to the ADC bundle placed on the ADC container level will apply to mixed ADC bundles placed on mixed NDC pallets.
d. The container price applicable to the mixed ADC pallet level will apply to the mixed ASF/NDC pallet level.
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15.4 Pallet Preparation
15.4.1 Pallet Preparation, Sequence and Labeling
***Preparation, sequence and labeling:
[Revise the introductory paragraph of 15.4.1a as follows:]
a. Merged 5-digit scheme, optional. Not permitted for bundles containing noncarrier route automation-compatible flats under 301.3.0. Required for all other bundles. Pallet must contain carrier route bundles and noncarrier route 5-digit bundles (Presorted bundles only) for the same 5-digit scheme under L001. For 5-digit destinations not part of L001, merged 5-digit pallet preparation begins with 15.4.1d. Labeling:
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[Reverse the sequence of items c and d to result in “Merged 5-digit” as the new 15.4.1c and “5-digit carrier routes” as the new 15.4.1d. Revise the introductory paragraph of resequenced 15.4.1c as follows:]
c. Merged 5-digit, optional. Not permitted for bundles containing noncarrier route automation-compatible flats under 301.3.0. Required for all other bundles. Pallet must contain carrier route bundles and noncarrier route 5-digit bundles (Presorted bundles only) for the same 5-digit ZIP Code. Labeling:
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e. 5-digit, required.***
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[Revise 15.4.1e2, “Line 2”, as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD/PER FLTS 5D"; followed by “BARCODED” (or “BC”), “NONBARCODED” (or “NBC”) for Presorted mail, or “BARCODED/NONBARCODED” (or “BC/NBC”) for pallets including both barcoded and Presorted pieces; followed by “MIX COMAIL.”
f. 3-digit, optional, but not available for bundles for 3-digit ZIP Code prefixes marked “N” in L002.***
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[Revise 15.4.1f2, “Line 2”, as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD/PER FLTS 3D"; followed by “BARCODED” (or “BC”), “NONBARCODED” (or “NBC”) for Presorted mail, or “BARCODED/NONBARCODED” (or “BC/NBC”) for pallets including both barcoded and Presorted pieces; followed by “MIX COMAIL.”
[Revise 15.4.1g and h as follows:]
g. SCF, required. Pallet may contain carrier route, automation, or Presorted mail for the 3-digit ZIP Code groups in L005. Labeling:
1. Line 1: L002, Column C.
2. Line 2: “STD/PER FLTS SCF”; followed by “BARCODED” (or “BC”), “NONBARCODED” (or “NBC”) for Presorted mail, or “BARCODED/NONBARCODED” (or “BC/NBC”) for mixed pallets; followed by “MIX COMAIL.”
h. ASF, required unless bundle reallocation used under 15.1.10. Pallet may contain carrier route, automation, or Presorted mail for the 3-digit ZIP Code groups in L602. ADC bundles are assigned to pallets according to the “label to” ZIP Code in L004 as appropriate. Labeling:
1. Line 1: L602.
2. Line 2: “STD/PER FLTS NDC”; followed by “BARCODED” (or “BC”), “NONBARCODED” (or “NBC”) for Presorted mail, or “BARCODED/NONBARCODED” (or “BC/NBC”) for mixed pallets; followed by “MIX COMAIL.”
i. NDC, required.***
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[Revise 15.4.1i2, “Line 2”, as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD/PER FLTS NDC”; followed by “BARCODED” (or “BC”), “NONBARCODED” (or “NBC”) for Presorted mail, or “BARCODED/NONBARCODED” (or “BC/NBC”) for mixed pallets; followed by “MIX COMAIL.”
j. Mixed NDC, required, no minimum.***
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[Revise 15.4.1j2, “Line 2”, as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD/PER FLTS;” followed by “BARCODED” (or “BC”), “NONBARCODED” (or “NBC”) for Presorted mail, or “BARCODED/NONBARCODED” (or “BC/NBC”) for mixed pallets; followed by “WKG;” followed by “MIX COMAIL.”
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next monthly update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 12-1-11
