7-4 Supplier Disagreement Resolution

To more effectively manage supplier relationships, the Postal Service has established a two-tiered SDR process. It is the policy of the Postal Service and in the interest of suppliers to resolve supplier business disagreements at the contracting officer/management level. In order to expeditiously resolve disagreements that are not resolved at the contracting officer or appropriate management level, to reduce litigation expenses, inconvenience, and other costs for all parties, and to facilitate successful business relationships with Postal Service suppliers, the supplier community, and other persons, the Postal Service’s SDR process has been established as the sole and exclusive means to resolve disagreements, and a SDR Official (SDR Official) has been appointed to oversee the process. While the SDR Official’s decisions are final, they may be appealed to a federal court, but only on the grounds that the decision was procured by fraud or other criminal misconduct, or was obtained in violation of the regulations. 39 CFR 601 located at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f80a19ac7c3510d1777bbaf0e39dfb4d&mc=true&node=pt39.1.601&rgn=div5 defines supplier business disagreements, establishes the applicable time frames in which they may be lodged and resolved, and provides the relevant regulatory information. In the event of a conflict between this practice and the regulations in 39 CFR 601, the regulations take precedence.