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Interim Internal Purchasing Guidelines > 1 Authority, Responsibility and Policy
1 Authority, Responsibility and Policy
1.1.1 Background
1. The United States Postal Service was established by the Postal
Reorganization Act (PRA), Public Law 91-375 (codified at Title 39 of the
United States Code) as an independent establishment within the
executive branch whose purpose it is to bind the nation through the
personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the
American people. The Postal Service operates from its own revenues
in providing its public service. Since it was established, it has faced
rapidly increasing competition from both technology and businesses
targeting market niches within the postal product line. Consequently,
the Postal Service's ability to provide efficient, economical service is
driven by market forces.
2. The Postal Service acquires property and services in accordance with
the PRA and all other applicable laws enacted by Congress. The
Postal Service has promulgated regulations governing the acquisition of
goods and services at 39 C.F.R Part 601. The public should reference
both the PRA and the regulations for guidance regarding the Postal
Service's purchasing regulations. These Interim Internal Purchasing
Guidelines are not binding regulations of the Postal Service. The public
should be guided by and may rely on the regulations of the Postal
Service at 39 CFR Part 601 and by the terms of specific
solicitations/requests for proposals rather than these Guidelines, which
are intended for internal use only to assist the Postal Service in
obtaining best value and efficiently conducting its supply chain
functions. These Interim Internal Purchasing Guidelines are advisory
and illustrative of approaches that may generally be used by Postal
Service employees, but are intended to provide for flexibility and
discretion in their application to specific business situations. These
Interim Internal Purchasing Guidelines, therefore, create no rights,
substantive or procedural, enforceable against the Postal Service.
3. These Guidelines are intended to provide Postal Service purchase
teams with general directions and flexible guidance when purchasing
goods and services. They are interim because the Postal Service is
currently developing a set of Business Principles and Practices focused
on the supply chain management business philosophy that will replace
these guidelines in the near future. These guidelines apply to all
purchasing activities except those unique to real estate and related
services (see 1.1.2.a.1).
1.1.2 Responsibility for These Guidelines
1.1.2.a Vice President, Supply Management. The Vice President (VP), Supply
Management (SM), is responsible for these guidelines. In addition, the VP
has delegated related authority as follows:
1. Responsibility for guidelines unique to the acquisition, lease, and
disposal of real estate and to services related to those transactions has
been delegated to the Vice President, Facilities (see 1.5.2.r for a
definition of real estate and related services).
2. Responsibility for supplemental guidelines with respect to the
requirement categories listed in Exhibit 4.5.2, Supplemental Policy and
Procedural Authority, has been delegated to the positions described in
that exhibit.
1.1.2.b Supply Chain Management Advisory Committee. The Supply Chain
Management Advisory Committee (SCMAC) advises the VP, SM on the
Postal Service's strategic direction and how best SM can further the Postal
Service's business and competitive objectives. The members of the SCMAC
are:
1. The VP, SM (Chair)
2. The VP and Chief Technology Officer
3. The VP, Engineering
4. The VP, Facilities
5. The VP, Network Operations Management, and
6. The Deputy General Counsel.
1.1.2.c Supply Chain Management Principles and Practices Committee. The Supply
Chain Management Principles and Practices Committee (SMCPPC) oversees
the development of these guidelines. In addition, the SMPPC reviews and
evaluates proposed changes to these guidelines for the VP, SM and the
SCMAC. The SMPPC meets at least annually. The members of the
SMCPPC are:
1. The manager, Supply Management Infrastructure (the Chair).
2. The senior counsel, Contract Protests and Policies.
3. The manager, Facilities Portfolio.
4. The manager, Mail Equipment Portfolio.
5. The manager, Services Portfolio.
6. The manager, Supplies Portfolio.
7. The manager, Transportation Portfolio.
8. The manager, Supply Chain Management Strategies.
9. The manager, Supply Management Operations. Representatives of the
Chief Technology Office, and the Vice Presidents, Engineering,
Facilities, and Network Operations Management.
1.1.2.d Supply Management Infrastructure. The staff of Supply Management
Infrastructure, SM, assists the SCMPPC in its deliberations.
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