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Supplying Principles and Practices > United States Postal Service Supplying Principles
United States Postal Service
Supplying Principles
Background
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.
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 Supplying Principles and the accompanying Supplying
Practices are not binding regulations of the Postal Service. The public should
be guided by and may rely upon the Postal Service regulations referenced
above and the terms of specific solicitations/requests for proposals rather
than the Supplying Principles and Practices, which are intended for internal
use only to assist the Postal Service in obtaining best value and efficiently
conducting its supply chain functions. These Supplying Principles and
Practices 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. Consistent
with that intent, these Supplying Principles and Practices create no rights,
substantive or procedural, enforceable against the Postal Service.
Purpose of Principles
The eight Supplying Principles contained herein represent the strategic
elements that guide Postal Service buying and material management
activities. Each of these Principles is central to obtaining the financial,
operational, and public policy goals outlined in the Postal Service's
Transformation Plan.
Responsible Parties
The Vice President (VP), Supply Management (SM), is responsible for
ensuring that Postal Service supplying activities further the business and
competitive interests of the Postal Service and for approving and issuing
these Supplying Principles and supplemental guidance.
To assist the VP, SM, in carrying-out these responsibilities, two
cross-functional bodies provide advice and insight to ensure that Postal
Service goals are met and that these Principles promote an efficient and
effective supply chain. The Supply Chain Advisory Council (SCAC),
comprised of Postal Service officers from across the supply chain, meets
periodically to advise the VP, SM, on general supply chain issues, including
these Supplying Principles. The Supply Chain Management Committee
(SCMC), comprised of Postal Service executives, meets on a more frequent
basis and makes recommendations with regard to the development,
implementation, review, and enhancement of these Principles and
supplemental guidance.
The Supply Management Infrastructure organization supports both bodies in
their efforts.
Change Management
These Principles will be continually evaluated and improved in order to
ensure continuing effectiveness and consistency with the current Postal
Service strategic direction and supply chain innovation. Proposed changes to
enhance these Principles are welcome from all supply chain, including
suppliers.
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