Purchasing Manual

Issue 1 January 31, 1997

A. Explanation. This Purchasing Manual (PM) is published and maintained by Policies, Planning and Diversity, Purchasing and Materials. A new directive containing the Postal Service's purchasing policy, it replaces Publication 41, USPS Procurement Manual, subject to the transition provision at F. below.

B. Material Transmitted. This is a complete revision to the Postal Service's purchasing policy, and users are encouraged to consult the Summary of Changes which contains a discussion of general and specific policy changes.

C. Other Directives. Topics addressed in this manual may also be addressed in other purchasing-related directives such as Handbooks AS-707, Procurement Handbook, RE-14, Design and Construction Handbook, and PO-513, Mail Transportation Procurement Handbook. Should material in this PM conflict with material contained in these handbooks or any other purchasing-related directive (pending their revision or replacement), this manual prevails.

D. Distribution and Requisitioning

1. Initial Distribution. The PM is automatically distributed to Postal
Service purchasing organizations and to organizations involved in
the purchasing process.

2. Requisitioning Copies. Other Postal Service organizations, and
organizations requiring additional copies, may requisition the PM
from their servicing material distribution center (MDC).

E. Sale to the Public. The PM is available to the public from:

SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

941 N CAPITOL STREET NE

WASHINGTON DC 20402-9371

PHONE (202) 512-1800

F. Issuance Date/Effective Date/Transition Period. The PM is being issued on January 31, 1997. Pending the revision and updating of purchasing support systems for consistency with this manual, purchasing organizations may adopt the policies and procedures contained herein immediately, or may follow the policies and procedures contained in the last edition of the Publication 41, Procurement Manual (Transmittal Letter 8, July 12, 1995). The Vice President, Purchasing and Materials, will announce the end of this transition period by notice in the Postal Bulletin.

Once a purchasing organization has decided to adopt this manual's policy and procedures for any category or categories of purchases, it must use those policies and procedures consistently for that category or categories, and not revert to previous policies and procedures. Contracting officers must ensure that solicitations and other purchasing documents make prospective offerors fully aware of the authority (this PM or Publication 41, Procurement Manual, TL-8) pursuant to which an individual purchase is made. Particular care must be taken that previous versions of contract provisions and clauses are not used in purchases made under the policies and procedures of this manual, and vice versa.

The protest regulations contained in 3.6 of this PM will apply to any protest received after the PM's issuance.

A. Keith Strange

Vice President

Purchasing and Materials