International Mail

IMM REVISION

International Mail - Mailing to Israel

Effective May 17, 2001, the individual country listing for Israel in the International Mail Manual (IMM) is revised to reflect changes in the list of mailing prohibitions and restrictions.

We will incorporate these changes into both the printed version of IMM Issue 25 and the online IMM, which can be accessed via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

International Mail Manual (IMM)

* * * * *

Country Conditions for Mailing - Israel

* * * * *

Prohibitions (130)

[Delete the following entry from the list of prohibitions:]

Tropical and sub-tropical fresh fruit.

[Add the following entries to the list of prohibitions:]

· Dairy products, except for canned powdered milk.

· Fish and fish products, except for canned items.

· Fresh fruits and vegetables.

· Live plants and seeds.

* * * * *

Restrictions

[Add the following entries to the end of the list of restrictions:]

· Spices may be mailed in quantities not to exceed 0.5 kilograms (1.1 pounds) per spice. To import larger quantities from abroad, the prospective recipient must obtain an import license issued by the Israeli government.

· Vitamins, minerals, and food supplements may be mailed in quantities not to exceed 100 grams (3.5 ounces) or one package per product. To import larger quantities from abroad, the prospective recipient must obtain an import license issued by the Israeli government.

· Food products may be mailed in quantities not to exceed 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) per food item or 15 kilograms (33 pounds) per total food shipment. To import larger quantities from abroad, the prospective recipient must obtain an import license issued by the Israeli government.

· Imports of fresh and frozen meats require both a permit issued by the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and a certificate issued by the competent regulatory authority in the country of origin which attests to the fact that "veterinary control has been carried out."

· Imports of commercial samples of meat and fish products require either a permit issued by the Israeli Food Control Administration or a certificate issued by the competent regulatory authority in the country of origin which attests to the fact that the contents are "fit for human consumption."

* * * * *

- Marketing, International Business, 5-17-01

Philately

STAMP ANNOUNCEMENT 01-31

Frida Kahlo Commemorative Stamp

The Postal Service will issue a pane of twenty 34-cent Frida Kahlo commemorative stamps (Item Number 451200) in Phoenix, AZ 85026, on June 21, 2001. The stamp, designed by Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, AZ, goes on sale nationwide June 22, 2001. This pane may be split and the stamps may be sold individually.

The Postal Service continues its celebration of the fine arts with this stamp honoring Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), which will be issued in partnership with the Mexican Postal Service. The stamp art features a Frida Kahlo self-portrait painted in 1933 with oil paints on metal. The color photograph of Frida Kahlo on the selvage is a carbro print by the renowned portrait photographer Nickolas Muray.

While Kahlo's art was primarily autobiographical, pre- Columbian art and Mexican folk art influenced her style. Stricken by polio in early childhood and seriously injured in a streetcar accident at the age of 18, Kahlo endured severe pain throughout her life. The artist's physical suffering, her inability to bear children, and her tumultuous marriage to Mexican muralist Diego Rivera is reflected in much of her work.

How to Order the First Day of Issue Postmark

Customers have 30 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, by telephone at 1 800 STAMP-24, and at the Postal Store Web site at www.usps.com. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FRIDA KAHLO COMMEMORATIVE STAMP
POSTMASTER
4949 EAST VAN BUREN
PHOENIX AZ 85026-9991

After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by July 21, 2001.

Stamp Fulfillment Services (SFS) also offers first day covers for new stamp issues and postal stationery items postmarked with the official first day of issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by telephoning 1 800 STAMP-24 or writing to:

INFORMATION FULFILLMENT
DEPT 6270
US POSTAL SERVICE
PO BOX 219014
KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014

First day covers remain on sale for at least 1 year after the stamp's issuance.

Philatelic Products

There are no philatelic products associated with these stamps.

Distribution

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) will receive two-thirds of their full standard automatic distribution quantity for a gummed sheet stamp. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size (70,000 stamps).

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs will make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post Offices for one-half of their standard automatic distribution quantities using PS Form 3309, Advice of Shipment/Stamp Invoice, and PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition. SDOs must not distribute stamps to Post Offices before June 14, 2001.

Additional Supply

Post Offices requiring additional stamps must requisition them from their designated SDO using a separate PS Form 17. SDOs requiring additional stamps must order them from the appropriate accountable paper depository (APD) using a separate PS Form 17.

For filling supplemental orders, San Francisco, Washington, DC, and New York APDs will receive 350,000 additional stamps. Chicago, Denver, and Memphis APDs will receive 210,000 additional stamps.

Philatelic Requirement

SDOs with authorized philatelic centers will receive an automatic distribution of these stamps in four positions for subsequent distribution to each philatelic window.

Sales Policy

All Post Offices must acquire and maintain a supply of each new commemorative as long as customer demand exists, as long as supply lasts, or until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale. If supplies run low, Post Offices must reorder additional quantities using their normal ordering procedures.

- Stamp Services,
Public Affairs and Communications, 5-17-01

STAMP ANNOUNCEMENT 01-32

Baseball's Legendary Playing Fields Commemorative Stamps

The Postal Service will issue a pane of twenty 34-cent commemorative stamps with 10 images of Baseball's Legendary Playing Fields (Item Number 450800) in New York, NY 10199; Boston, MA 02205; Chicago, IL 60607; and Detroit, MI 48233 on June 27, 2001. The stamps, designed by Phil Jordan of Falls Church, VA, go on sale nationwide June 28, 2001. This pane may be split and the stamps may be sold individually.

Appearing on the 10 stamps are Comiskey Park in Chicago, Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, Fenway Park in Boston, Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Polo Grounds in New York City, Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Wrigley Field in Chicago, and Yankee Stadium in New York City. The 11th field, Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, is featured on the header. Text on the back of each stamp describes the particular baseball field. Only four of these 11 legendary playing fields are still in existence.

How to Order the First Day of Issue Postmark

Customers have 30 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, by telephone at 1 800 STAMP-24, and at the Postal Store Web site at www.usps.com. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

BASEBALL'S LEGENDARY PLAYING FIELDS
COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS
POSTMASTER

(one of the following:)

421 EIGHTH AVE RM 2029B
NEW YORK NY 10199-9991

(or)

PO BOX 9696
BOSTON MA 02205-9696

(or)

433 W HARRISON
CHICAGO IL 60607-9991

(or)

1927 ROSA PARKS BLVD
DETROIT MI 48216-9991

After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by July 26, 2001.

Stamp Fulfillment Services (SFS) also offers first day covers for new stamp issues and postal stationery items postmarked with the official first day of issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by telephoning 1 800 STAMP-24 or writing to:

INFORMATION FULFILLMENT
DEPT 6270
US POSTAL SERVICE
PO BOX 219014
KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014

First day covers remain on sale for at least 1 year after the stamp's issuance.

Philatelic Products

The Postal Service will issue the 34-cent Baseball's Legendary Playing Fields commemorative stamps on June 27, 2001. In addition, uncut press sheets, sets of 10 stamped cards, and a Collection II bundle featuring Baseball's Legendary Playing Fields stamps will be available at Post Offices and postal retail stores nationwide on June 28, 2001.

Baseball Collection II bundle includes: one set of Legends of Baseball first day covers, one set of Baseball's Legendary Playing Fields Postal Stamped Cards, one set of Baseball's Legendary Playing Fields first day covers, and one pane of Baseball's Legendary Playing Fields stamps.

Uncut Press Sheet: Item Number 450884 - $54.40 (USA Philatelic catalog).

Stamped Cards (Set of 10): Item Number 450800 - $6.95 (Post Offices).

Stamped Cards (Set of 10): Item Number 450801 - $6.95 (Postal retail stores).

Stamped Cards (Set of 10): Item Number 450866 - $6.95 (USA Philatelic catalog).

Collection II (Bundle): Item Number 450889 - $28.95 (USA Philatelic catalog).

Baseball's Legendary Playing Fields products may also be ordered by telephone at 1 800 STAMP-24, by fax at 816-545-1212, and by mail from:

STAMP FULFILLMENT SERVICES
US POSTAL SERVICE
PO BOX 7247
PHILADELPHIA PA 19101-9014

Distribution

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) will receive two-thirds automatic distribution quantity for a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) sheet stamp, rounded up to the nearest master carton size (40,000 stamps).

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs will make a subsequent full standard automatic distribution to Post Offices using PS Form 3309, Advice of Shipment/Stamp Invoice, and PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition. SDOs must not distribute stamps to Post Offices before June 21, 2001.

Additional Supply

Post Offices requiring additional stamps must requisition them from their designated SDO using a separate PS Form 17. SDOs requiring additional stamps must order them from the appropriate accountable paper depository (APD) using a separate PS Form 17.

For filling supplemental orders, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, DC, APDs will receive 840,000 additional stamps. Memphis and New York will receive 800,000 additional stamps, and Denver will receive 400,000 additional stamps.

Philatelic Requirement

SDOs with authorized philatelic centers will receive an automatic distribution of these stamps in eight positions for subsequent distribution to each philatelic window.

Sales Policy

All Post Offices must acquire and maintain a supply of each new commemorative stamp as long as customer demand exists, until inventory is depleted, or until the stamp is officially withdrawn from sale. If supplies run low, Post Offices must reorder additional quantities using their normal ordering procedures.

- Stamp Services,
Public Affairs and Communications, 5-17-01

Stamp Issues That Will Remain on General Sale

The following stamp issues are withdrawn from sale at Stamp Fulfillment Services (SFS) and authorized philatelic windows on June 30, 2001. However, they will remain on sale at regular retail windows until supplies are exhausted or an off sale notice is issued.

- Stamp Services,Public Affairs and Communications, 5-17-01

Stamp Stock Items Withdrawn From Regular Sale and From Sale at Philatelic Centers

Effective close-of-business June 30, 2001, all Post Offices, stations, branches, postal stores, vending outlets, and authorized philatelic centers must (1) withdraw the stamp stock items listed below and their related vending and store-prepared stamp items from sale and (2) prepare them for destruction. The stamp stock items should be submitted to destruction sites according to local established procedures, under the guidelines in Handbook F-1, Post Office Accounting Procedures, Part 45, Destroying Stamp Stock.

Absolutely no sales of the stamp stock items and their related vending and store-prepared stamp items listed below are permitted at retail windows and outlets after June 30, 2001. These stamp stock items are also withdrawn from sale at Stamp Fulfillment Services (SFS).

- Stamp Services,Public Affairs and Communications, 5-17-01

Stamp Stock Items Withdrawn From Regular Sale and From Sale at Philatelic Centers but Remaining on Sale at Stamp Fulfillment Services

Effective close-of-business June 30, 2001, all Post Offices, stations, branches, postal stores, vending outlets, and authorized philatelic centers must (1) withdraw the stamp stock items listed below and their related vending and store-prepared stamp items from sale and (2) prepare them for destruction. The stamp stock items should be submitted to destruction sites according to local established procedures, under the guidelines in Handbook F-1, Post Office Accounting Procedures, Part 45, Destroying Stamp Stock.

Absolutely no sales of the stamp stock items and their related vending and store-prepared stamp items listed below are permitted at retail windows and outlets after June 30, 2001. However, they remain on sale at Stamp Fulfillment Services (SFS).

- Stamp Services,Public Affairs and Communications, 5-17-01

Pictorial Cancellations Announcement

As a community service, the Postal Service offers pictorial cancellations to commemorate local events celebrated in communities throughout the nation. A list of events for which pictorial cancellations are authorized appears below. If available, the sponsor of the pictorial cancellation appears in italics under the date. Also provided, as space permits, are illustrations of those cancellations that were reproducible and available at press time.

People attending these local events may obtain the cancellation in person at the temporary post office station established there. Those who cannot attend the event, but who wish to obtain the cancellation, may submit a mail order request. Pictorial cancellations are available only for the dates indicated, and requests must be postmarked no later than 30 days following the requested pictorial cancellation date.

All requests must include a stamped envelope or postcard bearing at least the minimum First-Class Mail postage. Items submitted for cancellation may not include postage issued after the date of the requested cancellation. Such items will be returned unserviced.

Customers wishing to obtain a cancellation should affix stamps to any envelope or postcard of their choice, address the envelope or postcard to themselves or others,insert a card of postcard thickness in envelopes for sturdiness, and tuck in the flap. Place the envelope or postcard in a larger envelope and address it to: PICTORIAL CANCELLATIONS, followed by the NAME OF THE STATION,ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP + 4 CODE, exactly as listed below (using all capitals and no punctuation, except thehyphen in the ZIP + 4 code).

Customers can also send stamped envelopes and postcards without addresses for cancellation, as long as they supply a larger envelope with adequate postage and their return address. After applying the pictorial cancellation, the Postal Service returns the items (with or without addresses) under addressed protective cover.

The following pictorial cancellation has been extended for 30 days.

May 5, 2001

Latin Council of America

CINCO DE MAYO STATION

POSTMASTER

16890 E ALAMEDA PKWY

AURORA CO 80017-9998

May 4, 2001

U.S. District Court

STATION OF SCRANTON PA 18503

PHILATELIC

1425 CROOKED HILL ROAD

HARRISBURG PA 17107-9714

STATION OF WILLIAMSPORT PA 17701

PHILATELIC

1425 CROOKED HILL ROAD

HARRISBURG PA 17107-9714

STATION OF HARRISBURG PA 17108

PHILATELIC

1425 CROOKED HILL ROAD

HARRISBURG PA 17107-9714

May 10, 2001

Northern Cass High School

CLASS OF 2001 STATION

POSTMASTER

PO BOX 9998

ARGUSVILLE ND 58005-9998

CLASS OF 2001 STATION

POSTMASTER

PO BOX 9998

GARDNER ND 58036-9998

CLASS OF 2001 STATION

POSTMASTER

PO BOX 9998

ARTHUR ND 58006-9998

CLASS OF 2001 STATION

POSTMASTER

PO BOX

GRANDIN ND 58038-9998

CLASS OF 2001 STATION

POSTMASTER

PO BOX 9998

ERIE ND 58029-9998

CLASS OF 2001 STATION

POSTMASTER

PO BOX 9998

HUNTER ND 58048-9998

- Stamp Services,Public Affairs and Communications, 5-17-01

Special Cancellation Die Hubs

Postmasters and plant managers who have any of the special cancellation die hubs listed below may use them for the periods designated. At the end of the period, these die hubs must be withdrawn and stored. Postmasters and plant managers who do not have these special die hubs may not request them from the sponsors.

Post Offices

This office
will be closed

Monday,
May 28, 2001,

to observe
Memorial Day.

Postal Employees

Thrift Savings Plan Policy Changes, TSP Open Season, and PostalEASE

The next Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) open season is May 15 through July 31, 2001. TSPBK08, Summary of the Thrift Savings Plan for Federal Employees (NSN is 7530-03-000-9364; unit of issue is EA; bulk pack quantity is 150; edition date is May 2001), provides a good overview of TSP. The following information should assist personnel offices in conducting this open season.

TSP Policy Changes

Based on changes in underlying law, substantial TSP policy changes become effective this open season. These changes are highlighted here and explained in greater detail in the summary booklet and TSP bulletins for personnel offices that are available on the TSP Web site at www.tsp.gov. TSP has added two funds: the S Fund, or Small Capitalization Stock Index Investment Fund; and the I Fund, or International Stock Index Investment Fund. An employee may change the paycheck fund investment choice (contribution allocations) both during and outside of the TSP open season. To make a paycheck fund investment choice, an employee must contact TSP directly, not PostalEASE. If an employee does not contact TSP, the existing fund investment choice as of April 2001 continues. The earnings statement (paycheck stub) continues to show the TSP contribution percentage or dollar amount, but the TSP fund investment detail will no longer be shown. Employees covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) may contribute up to 11 percent of basic pay (the maximum used to be 10 percent). Eligible FERS employees still receive the Agency Automatic (1 percent) Contribution and the Agency Matching Contribution of up to 4 percent from the Postal Service - these amounts have not changed. Employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and CSRS Offset employees may contribute up to 6 percent of basic pay (the maximum used to be 5 percent). The limits for FERS, CSRS, and CSRS Offset employees will continue to increase by 1 percentage point per year through 2005. Then, all participants will be eligible to contribute up to the Internal Revenue Service code's annual deferral limit ($10,500 in 2001) without any percentage limit. A newly hired career employee may elect to participate in TSP until the 61st day after the date of hire and in every subsequent open season. The waiting period of one to two open seasons continues to apply to the Agency Automatic (1 percent) Contribution and the Agency Matching Contribution for FERS employees. More permissive transition rules apply to employees hired from January 1, 2001, through mid-August 2001.

Contacting TSP to Make a Fund Investment Election

An employee has three methods available to make a fund investment election: via the TSP Web site at www.tsp.gov, via the TSP ThriftLine at 1-504-255-8777, and by mailing the new form TSP-50, Investment Allocation (NSN is 7530-05-000-4305, edition date is May 2001), to the TSP Service Office in New Orleans. The Web site and ThriftLine offer more convenient methods and elections will take effect more quickly than through using TSP-50. TSP-50 is not available from the TSP Web site. Personnel offices must not accept and cannot process completed forms TSP-50. To use the Web site or ThriftLine, employees need to use their TSP Personal Identification Number (PIN). See TSP PIN Versus USPS PIN later in this article for information on PINs.

PostalEASE Used for Enrollment

Employees must make contribution elections during the TSP open season. Employees must use the PostalEASE telephone system to make contribution elections and cancellations. The toll-free number is 1-877-4PS-EASE (1-877-477-3273). The employee must have his or her USPS PIN to use PostalEASE. This TSP open season ends July 31 at 5:00 p.m. central time (CT). Personnel and employing offices must not distribute TSP-1, Thrift Savings Plan Election Form, to employees for making TSP open season elections. TSP-1 is no longer stocked at the Material Distribution Center (MDC).

TSP PIN Versus USPS PIN

Beginning this TSP open season, employees must use two PINs to make TSP elections. The TSP PIN is maintained by TSP and must be used to make fund investment choices via the TSP Web site and the ThriftLine. The USPS PIN is maintained by the Postal Service and must be used to make either a contribution percentage election or dollar amount election or to cancel TSP participation via PostalEASE.

An employee who does not know his or her TSP PIN may choose one of three methods to have a new TSP PIN mailed to his or her address of record. Available methods are: (1) Go to the TSP Web site at www.tsp.gov and select Account Access. (2) Call the ThriftLine at 1-504-255-8777, and choose 2, enter Social Security Number, then listen to the instructions. (3) Call the TSP Service Office at 1-504-255-6000. Once TSP has received a TSP PIN request, the old TSP PIN is no longer valid.

An employee who does not know his or her USPS PIN must call PostalEASE. When prompted, press 1 for PostalEASE. When prompted, enter the Social Security number. When prompted to enter the PIN, pause, then press 2. The USPS PIN will be mailed to the employee's address of record, normally within 10 days. When an employee requests the USPS PIN, it does not change (unlike the TSP PIN), and the old USPS PIN remains valid. (The USPS PIN is the same PIN employees use for phone bidding and computerized bidding.)

Direct Mailings to Employees

Direct mailings to employees include the following:

· Career employees receive from the national level a direct mailing of leaflet TSP0501, TSP Open Season (NSN is 7530-05-000-4306; unit of issue is EA; bulk pack quantity is 4,800), and PostalEASE instructions at their mailing addresses of record during May.

· Career employees receive from the national level a direct mailing of TSPBK08, Summary of the Thrift Savings Plan for Federal Employees (NSN is 7530-03-000-9364; unit of issue is EA; bulk pack quantity is 150; edition date is May 2001), as well as a cover letter and PostalEASE instructions at their mailing addresses of record during May.

· Career employees hired since January 1, 2001, also receive from the national level a direct mailing with enrollment instructions. There will be a series of mailings depending on the date of hire, with the first mailing planned to arrive in June. These employees will have an opportunity to make a TSP election, even though the initial election opportunity will have ended for some of them under standard new employee rules.

The return address for undeliverable TSP enrollment instructions for newly eligible employees is the employing office of record. The disposition of returned items is at the discretion of the district office or other administering office. Forwarding a returned enrollment package to an employee offers that employee an opportunity to submit a correct PS Form 1216, Employee's Current Mailing Address (NSN is 7530-02-000-7354; Quick Pick number is 118; unit of issue is SE; bulk pack quantity is 4,000).

Eligibility

All career employees are eligible to make employee contribution elections this open season (subject to financial hardship withdrawal and termination exceptions). FERS employees hired before January 1, 2001, receive Agency Automatic (1 percent) Contributions and Agency Matching Contributions (as appropriate) beginning in July 2001.

All employees who participated in TSP and cancelled their TSP contributions after January 31, 2001, are not eligible to participate in this TSP open season. They must wait for the TSP open season beginning November 15, 2001.

Effective Dates

The windows of opportunity for employees to make TSP open season elections via PostalEASE, which automates the processing of TSP elections, and the resulting effective dates are as follows:

Because PostalEASE provides employees the ability to complete a TSP open season election without contacting the local personnel office and automates the processing of such elections, it should minimize use of PS Form 6886, Thrift Savings Plan - Request for Retroactive Contributions, which is completed in cases of administrative error for TSP open season elections. Personnel offices have the authority to determine whether an administrative error has occurred. If an error has delayed a TSP open season election past the appropriate effective date, personnel and the employee must complete PS Form 6886 and submit it to the Eagan Accounting Service Center (ASC). The effective dates for elections delayed due to administrative error must be made retroactive to July 14 or 28, 2001, depending on the date the employee would have otherwise entered his or her open season election via PostalEASE. (PS Form 6886, which was published in Postal Bulletin 21665 (3-31-88), must be reproduced locally as needed.) Personnel offices also have the authority to determine whether a belated open season election opportunity exists. If so, personnel must submit the employee's election to the Eagan ASC for processing, in accordance with administrative instructions provided to personnel offices regarding PostalEASE. Belated open season elections are not retroactive in most circumstances.

Note: Processing deadlines and the closing date of this TSP open season require using only two PPs, as indicated earlier.

Open Season Materials

In addition to the direct mailing of TSP information to employees, the MDC will automatically distribute copies of new form TSP-50, Investment Allocation (NSN is 7530-05-000-4305, edition date is May 2001), to Human Resources at district offices, area offices, processing and distribution centers/facilities (PDC/Fs), bulk mail centers (BMCs), airport mail centers/facilities (AMC/Fs), remote encoding centers, Office of Inspector General, Postal Inspection Service divisions, Headquarters, and selected Headquarters field units. Unlike in past open seasons, the MDC will not distribute residual supplies of the open season leaflet (TSP0501) and summary (TSPBK08). (All prior versions of the summary are obsolete and must be discarded or recycled where appropriate.)

Non-Open Season Materials

Because of TSP policy changes, the following items have been revised: TSP-1, TSP Election Form (edition date is May 2001; note that TSP-1 is not used in the Postal Service for TSP open season elections); TSP-70/70T, Withdrawal Request/Transfer Information (NSN is 7530-03-000-4207, edition date is March 2001); TSPBK02, Withdrawing Your TSP Account After Leaving Federal Service (NSN is 7530-03-000-9361, edition date is May 2001); TSPBK03, Guide to TSP Investments (NSN is 7530-03-000-9092, edition date is May 2001); TSPBK05, Thrift Savings Plan Annuities (NSN is 7530-03-000-9363, edition date is February 2001); TSPBK08, Summary of the Thrift Savings Plan for Federal Employees (NSN is 7530-03-000-9364, edition date is May 2001); and TSP-19, Transfer of Information Between Agencies (edition date May 2001). TSP-19 is not an MDC stock item and must be reproduced locally. All prior editions of all of these items are obsolete and must be discarded or recycled where appropriate.

Pending the receipt of stock from TSP, the MDC will automatically distribute all of the above non-open season items except TSP-1 and TSP-19 to Human Resources at district offices, area offices, PDC/Fs, BMCs, AMC/Fs, remote encoding centers, Office of Inspector General, Postal Inspection Service divisions, Headquarters, and selected Headquarters field units.

Ordering TSP Items

Offices must not place orders for new or revised TSP items with TSP. Offices must wait to place orders for new or revised TSP items with the MDC. In all cases where the MDC will stock the new or revised TSP item, the MDC will make an initial distribution, once stock arrives, from TSP to HR at installations as noted earlier. Once the MDC completes the initial distribution of new or revised stock items, then offices may order these items from the MDC (the MDC will cancel orders received before the initial distribution). It is expected that most new or revised items will be distributed during this open season, with the exception of the summary, since TSP has been unable to print quantities over and above the stock required for the distribution to career employees. Offices may check the TSP Web site for new or revised items. However, note that TSP-50 will not be available from the TSP Web site.

Offices that would like any other TSP materials for use during the open season must order a supply from the MDC, which will fulfill the order if the materials have been provided by the TSP.

Participant Statements

Employees with a TSP account receive a participant statement from the TSP Service Office in May 2001.

Publicity

Human Resources at district offices, area offices, PDC/Fs, BMCs, AMC/Fs, remote encoding centers, Office of Inspector General, Postal Inspection Service divisions, Headquarters, and selected Headquarters field units receive a supply of posters this open season from the MDC. Installations that receive the posters must widely distribute them and post them on bulletin boards.

To assist in publicizing the TSP open season, all offices must post (1) the open season notice on page 28 of this Postal Bulletin through July 31, 2001 and (2) the current TSP fact sheet on bulletin boards.

- Compensation,
Employee Resource Management, 5-17-01

Thrift Savings Plan Policy Changes,
TSP Open Season, and PostalEASE

TSP Policy Changes Include higher contribution maximums; new S and I investment funds; and making fund investment choices directly with TSP, no longer with the Postal Service via PostalEASE.

TSP Fund Investment Revised TSP summary booklet mailed to all career employees. Elections

Contact TSP directly; during or outside TSP open season; to change investment of future TSP paycheck contributions or money already in account, no longer PostalEASE. Investment choice no longer shown on pay stubs.

Go to TSP Web site at www.tsp.gov, or call ThriftLine at 1-504-255-8777. Need TSP Personal Identification Number (PIN). Or mail TSP-50, Investment Allocation, to TSP (available from local personnel office by mid-June; election not effective as quickly).

TSP Contribution Use PostalEASE telephone enrollment system during TSP open season to begin Elections and contributing, change contribution amount or percentage, or cancel TSP contributions. Cancellations

Call toll free: 1-877-4PS-EASE (1-877-477-3273).

PostalEASE closes 5:00 p.m. central time July 31, 2001, for TSP open season elections.

Career employees who have trouble using PostalEASE, or who are unable to use a telephone, may contact local personnel office for help.

When and Who May 15 through July 31, 2001 - all career employees.

Information Mailed to Revised TSP Summary with PostalEASE instructions; TSP leaflet with PostalEASE Career Employees instructions; if mailings not received by mid-June, contact local personnel office.

Employees hired since January 1, 2001, receive special mailings beginning in June.

TSP PIN versus To use www.tsp.gov or to call ThriftLine, you will need your TSP PIN (available only USPS PIN from TSP).

To use PostalEASE, you will need your Social Security number (SSN) and USPS PIN (available only from PostalEASE).

Don't know TSP PIN? Request from www.tsp.gov - choose Account Access. Or via ThriftLine at 1-504-255-8777 - press 2, enter SSN, follow instructions. Or call TSP Service Office at 1-504-255-6000 and speak to representative. Mailed to address of record.

Don't know USPS PIN? Call PostalEASE; press 1; enter SSN; when prompted to enter PIN, pause, then press 2. Mailed to address of record - allow 10 days.

Please post on all bulletin boards through July 31, 2001.

Flexible Spending Accounts Change in FSA Customer Service Center Address

What The Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Customer Service Center has moved from Salt Lake City, UT, to Albany, NY.

Withdrawal requests submitted to Salt Lake City are forwarded to Albany and receive expedited processing.

New Withdrawal Request United Health Care is mailing a revised withdrawal request form to all FSA Form participants.

The revised withdrawal request form is also available on the Postal Service Intranet at blue.usps.gov/hr_prof/documents/01070q_2.pdf.

When an FSA participant files a claim and receives a payment, a revised withdrawal request form is included in the mailing.

Submitting FSA Claims - Participants may use the revised withdrawal request form, which shows the Mail or Fax new address, or they may use the prior version of the form and mail their claim to the new address:

FSA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER

PO BOX 925

ALBANY NY 12201-0925

Participants may also file claims via fax:

1-518-454-4844

FSA Customer Service The toll-free phone number for customer service has not changed: Center Telephone Number

1-800-842-2026

Please post on all bulletin boards through July 31, 2001.

NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES

THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN FACT SHEET

Percentage returns released May 8, 2001, by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board

Future performance of the funds will vary and may be significantly different from the returns shown above. See the Summary of the Thrift Savings Plan for detailed information about the funds and their investment risks. The monthly returns of the TSP Funds represent net earnings for the month after deduction of accrued administrative expenses and, except for the G Fund, after deduction of trading costs and accrued investment management fees as well. The returns for the four indexes shown do not include any of these deductions.

* Implemented May 2001.

Please post on bulletin boards. Recycle all previous notices.

Purchasing and Materials

Electronic Subscription Information Resources and Services

Purchasing and Materials has entered into a partnership with the Postal Service Corporate Library by which the library is the primary buyer for all electronic subscription information resources and services for Postal Service staff at the area and national levels. This partnership is for the purchase of electronic information resources that are easily accessible via the corporate intranet and decision support service agreements that provide electronically formatted research and analysis. Requests for electronic subscriptions that may be of area or national interest should be forwarded to:

CORPORATE LIBRARY
US POSTAL SERVICE
475 L'ENFANT PLZ SW 11TH FL
WASHINGTON DC 20260-1540

The Corporate Library's Information Sources page on the intranet (http://blue.usps.gov; click on Information and select Corporate Library, then Information Sources) serves as a gateway to 20 commercial information resources, the majority of which can be accessed by Postal Service staff corporate-wide. The Reading Room page on the library's intranet site also provides current information that is filtered by topics (e.g., Postal Service, Competitors, Consumer News, etc.) from information resources such as Dow Jones Interactive (with 8,000 business periodicals and newspapers) that are available to Postal Service staff who can access the intranet. In addition to the services already available on the Information Sources intranet page, the library has acquired, since fall 2000, other subscription information services requested by Headquarters customers.

Some of these information suppliers, such as Lexis- Nexis, Dun & Bradstreet, StateNet, and Congressional Quarterly previously held redundant contracts with the Postal Service for multiple customer groups (e.g., General Counsel, Postal Inspection Service, Government Relations, and Purchasing and Materials). The Corporate Library subsequently consolidated these into single contracts with each publisher, realizing both wider Postal Service staff access to more content and significant annual cost savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars (realized with each subscription renewal). Other decision support service agreements established and/or renewed by the Corporate Library include strategic Information Technology decision support resources (e.g., Gartner, Giga Information Group, Forrester Research, and PSINet).

The Postal Service, including the Corporate Library, realizes additional benefits from this centralized information purchasing arrangement by:

· Combining the library's knowledge of the publishing trade industry with its user orientation and information filtering support to proactively anticipate and meet new user and/or information requirements.

· Allowing expedient product selection and response to customer requirements via the library's contracting authorization.

· Serving as a repository or clearinghouse for business information and intellectual property that can be shared and reused by Postal Service staff.

· Leveraging combined customer requirements to negotiate favorable user terms and costs with publishers.

For further information, please contact either Robert Gardner, corporate librarian, at 202-268-2900, or Barbara Hyman, acquisitions librarian, at 202-268-2914.

- Purchasing Policies and Programs,
Purchasing and Materials, 5-17-01

Retail

REMINDER

No Refunds for PC Postage Products at Post Offices

The Inspection Service has reported recent instances in which individuals have submitted fraudulent PC PostageTM indicia to multiple Post Offices for refunds at retail windows. Since retail clerks are unable to determine the validity of the PC Postage indicia, the Postal Service has established a refund validation process with the PC Postage providers. Please refer to Postal Bulletin 22040 (12-28-00, page 93) and Postal Bulletin 22004 (8-12-99, page 68) for prior notifications and additional information on this subject.

Post Offices must not accept or process any PC Postage refund requests. Direct the customer to send mailpieces or labels with unused (unmailed) PC Postage indicia to the product provider for refund, in accordance with their provider's procedures.

Post Offices must not process refunds for any of the indicia shown below:

Neopost, Online, Inc.
ProMail

PSI Systems
Indicia Internet Postage

Stamps.com, Inc.
Stamps.com Internet PostageTM

Neopost Online
Simply PostageTM

Pitney Bowes, Inc.
ClickStampTM Online

- Postage Technology Management,Retail, Consumers and Small Business, 5-17-01