Summary of Changes

Permanent Note: On May 1, 2006, the Interim Internal Purchasing Guidelines were replaced by the Postal Service’s Supplying Principles and Practices (SPs and Ps).

Effective April 1, 2023 the following parts and sections of the SPs and Ps have been revised:

2 — Evaluate Sources

2-18.6.5, Clauses, has been revised to include the re-titled Clause B-12: Termination for Convenience or Default — Cost-Reimbursement Contracts. This list of clauses was re-formatted. Additionally, all instances of “must” has been revised to “should” because not all of the clauses listed are regulatory but are necessary, as applicable, for ensuring the Postal Service’s best interests are protected.
2-18.13, Clauses and Provisions, has been revised to include the re-titled of Clause B-12: Termination for Convenience or Default — Cost-Reimbursement Contracts and the list of clauses was re-formatted. Additionally, all instances of “must” has been revised to “should” because not all of the clauses listed are regulatory but are necessary, as applicable, for ensuring the Postal Service’s best interests are protected.
2-26.4.1, Past Performance, has been revised to include in paragraph b., the requirement for documenting the contract file with evidence of supplier eligibility for award within the review of past performance.

3 — Select Suppliers

3-5, Appoint Contracting Officer’s Representatives, changed “delegated” to “appointed.”
3-5.2, Evaluate Background and Training, includes a requirement for CORs to retake the COR training at least once every five-years or more frequently if required by the CO (example due to a substantive revision or new version of the course being released). A waiver example is included when a CO may waive the training requirement when the situation warrants.
3-5.3, Formally Designate COR, revised the first bullet point into two separate points. Included a disclosure that the contracting officer may, in his or her sole discretion, revoke the appointment of the COR at any time.

5 — Measure and Manage Supply

5-13.1, Termination for Convenience, has been revised to include the re-titled of Clause B-12: Termination for Convenience or Default — Cost-Reimbursement Contracts, and more detailed information from the revised clause about the convenience termination process, such as the provision of a 180-day time limit for a supplier to submit a termination for convenience settlement proposal was included. Additionally, all instances of “must” has been revised to “should” because not all the clauses listed are regulatory but are necessary, as applicable, for ensuring the Postal Service’s best interests are protected.
5-13.2, Termination for Default, has been revised to include the re-titled Clause B-12: Termination for Convenience or Default — Cost-Reimbursement Contracts. Additionally, all instances of “must” has been revised to “should” because not all the clauses listed are regulatory but are necessary, as applicable, for ensuring the Postal Service’s best interests are protected.
5-13.2.5, Contracts Other Than Fixed-Price, title has been revised to
5-13.2.5, Cost-Reimbursement Contracts Terminations, and the topic’s discussion updated to clarify the applicability of Clause B-12: Termination for Convenience or Default — Cost-Reimbursement Contracts. Additionally, all instances of “must” has been revised to “should” because not all the clauses listed are regulatory but are necessary, as applicable, for ensuring the Postal Service’s best interests are protected.
5-13.7, Clauses and Provisions:, the title to Clause B-12: Termination for Convenience or Default has been revised to the new title of Clause B-12: Termination for Convenience or Default — Cost-Reimbursement Contracts and the list of clauses was re-formatted.

7 — General Practices

7-3.1.7.b, Contracts Exceeding $100,000, has been slightly revised to clarify payment bonds.
7-3.1.7.c, Contracts Valued at $100,000 and Less, has been revised to remove the use of alternative payment protections for construction contracts.
7-3.1.8, Deposit of Assets Instead of Surety Bonds, has been revised to include performance bonds, a textual change from information service center to appropriate accounting service center for depositing currency, checks, and drafts, and clarifies that an inventory of the items deposited be maintained by the contracting officer placed within the contract file. Also, the text has been corrected for capitalization and spelling errors.
7-13, Supply Chain Security, has been revised to update reference of the Postal Service Information Security Requirements for Suppliers guide to new Handbook AS-805-I, USPS Information Security Requirements for Suppliers. The Handbook is available to suppliers at about.USPS.com link.
7-14, Privacy Considerations, has been revised to update reference of the Postal Service Information Security Requirements for Suppliers guide to new Handbook AS-805-I, USPS Information Security Requirements for Suppliers.

8 – Commodity Specific

8-4.5, Security Considerations, has been revised to correct formatting for Handbook AS-805-A, Information Resources Certification and Accreditation Process, and update reference of the Postal Service Information Security Requirements for Suppliers guide to new Handbook AS-805-I, USPS Information Security Requirements for Suppliers.

9 — Solicitation Provisions

Provision 4-10: Application of Information Security Requirements, has been revised to correct formatting for Handbook AS-805-A, Information Resources Certification and Accreditation Process, and update reference of the Postal Service Information Security Requirements for Suppliers guide to new Handbook AS-805-I, USPS Information Security Requirements for Suppliers.
Provision 7-4: Deposit of Assets Requirements, has been modified to include performance bonds in alignment with the edits made to 7-3.1.8, Deposit of Assets Instead of Surety Bonds.
Provision 7-5: Alternative Payment Protections, has been removed and retitled to Provision 7-5: Reserved.

10 — Contract Clauses