Philately (continued)

- Stamp Services,Government Relations and Public Policy, 10-4-01

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 At the end of the period, these die hubs must be withdrawn and stored.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

HIGHWAY CONTRACT - BOX DELIVERY SERVICE

October Surveys and Counts

Section 134.27 of Handbook P-5, Highway Contract Routes - Box Delivery Service, states that administrative officials must conduct surveys of contract box delivery routes when an administrative official, highway contract route (HCR) supplier, or manager, transportation contracts, elects for the survey and mail count.

Each administrative official forwards a PS Form 5406, Box Delivery Contract Route Survey, with other documentation, to the manager, transportation contracts, before the end of October of each year.

Along with the survey, a 1-week count of mail is to be conducted on each highway contract box delivery route on a route data volume count sheet provided by the manager, transportation contracts. This mail count must accompany each PS Form 5406 provided by the manager, transportation contracts.

- National Mail Transportation Purchasing,Purchasing and Materials, 10-4-01

REMINDER

Shortage of Rotary Locks

All Post Office personnel must review their inventory of rotary locks.

You must use rotary locks to secure registered mail and nonsaleable stamp stock in transit, whether in pouches, sacks, CON-CONŽ containers, or LD-3 Dacon containers. Rotary locks are a valuable asset to the Postal Service, and you must keep them in circulation for the Postal Service to reap the greatest return on investment. Rotary locks are preferred for use over metal seals for cost and environmental reasons.

Obtain an adequate supply of rotary locks from the servicing registry section of a processing and distribution center/facility (P&DC/F) or the Material Distribution Center.

Post Offices may not maintain more than a 5-day supply of rotary locks. Return defective locks for repair or supervised destruction to:

MAIL EQUIPMENT SHOPS
US POSTAL SERVICE
2135 FIFTH ST NE
WASHINGTON DC 20260-6224

If your Post Office has greater than a 5-day supply of serviceable rotary locks, send the extra locks to the registry section of a P&DC/F.

- Materials, Purchasing and Materials, 10-4-01

FY2002 A/P Planner in Material Distribution Center

The FY2002 A/P Action Planner has been updated and contains relevant and useful information to assist you in generating revenue and in satisfying the needs of your employees and your customers.

The FY2002 A/P Action Planner is now in the Material Distribution Center (MDC). There is no automatic distribution of these planners. The individual cost is $3.434.

Order the planner by one of the following means:

· Touch Tone Order Entry: Call 1-800-322-0317, option 1, then option 2.

· cc:Mail: Send an F3Fill-completed PS Form 7380, MDC Supply Requisition, to MDC Customer Service at TOKS001L.

· Official Mail: Send a completed PS Form 7380 to the following address:

SUPPLY REQUISITION
500 SW GARY ORMSBY DR
TOPEKA KS 66624-9602

Please use the following information to order the FY2002 A/P Action Planner:

PSIN: O101
Description: FY2002 A/P Action Planner
PSN: 7610-03-000-5022
Unit of issue: EA (each)
Minimum Order Quantity: 1
Bulk Pack Qty: 28
Unit Price: $3.434

- Mailing Industry Relations,Strategic Marketing, 10-4-01

Postal Employees

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Good News "Benjamin" Award Program

Thirty-one postmasters and supervisors from around the country received a Benjamin Trophy recently for their efforts in helping to promote a more positive image of the Postal Service. More than 300 postmasters, managers, and supervisors nationwide participated in the Postal Service's seventh annual Good News Program.

The Good News Program recognizes those managers who have gone the extra mile to help promote the Postal Service in their communities. Winners are determined by a cumulative point system. Each documented activity, event, newspaper clipping, and Postal Service appearance accumulates points. Managers with the highest number of points in their area and category win. There can be a maximum of six winners per area. Each year, 30 to 50 people are selected as winners.

Below is a list of the 2000/2001 Benjamin Award winners by area.

To learn more about the Good News "Benjamin" program, refer to Postal Bulletin 20054 (7-12-01, page 3) or contact your local Public Affairs and Communications CPS. You may also review Publication 701, The Benjamin, on the corporate intranet at http://blue.usps.gov (click on Information, then Policies and Procedures, then Publications, then either By Document ID Number or By Title, and then scroll down to Publication 701). Employees can place orders for Publication 701 from the Material Distribution Center (MDC) by one of the following means:

· Touch Tone Order Entry: Call 1-800-332-0317, option 1, then option 2.

· cc:Mail: Send an F3Fill-completed PS Form 7380, MDC Supply Requisition, by cc:Mail to MDC Customer Service at TOKS001L.

· Official Mail: Send a completed PS Form 7380, MDC Supply Requisition, to the following address:

SUPPLY REQUISITIONS
500 SW GARY ORMSBY DR
TOPEKA KS 66624-9702

The relevant ordering information is as follows:

PSN: 7610-05-000-4437
PSIN: PUB701
Unit of Issue: Each
Quick Pick #: None
Bulk Pack Quantity: 500
Price: $0.0532
Edition Date: June 2001

- Community Relations,Public Affairs and Communications, 10-4-01

REVISED HANDBOOK

Handbook EL-801, Supervisor's Guide to Safety

You can now order revised Handbook EL-801, Supervisor's Guide to Safety, from the Material Distribution Center (MDC). This handbook provides guidance to managers, supervisors, and postmasters on preserving a safe work environment.

Managers should order enough copies for all their managerial or nonbargaining Postal employees. Postal employee development centers (PEDC) or district personnel offices should also order sufficient copies for Associate Supervisor Program (ASP) participants.

The revision incorporates changes due to the Postal Employee's Safety Improvement Act (PESEA), effective September 1998. The guide stresses day-to-day safety and health responsibilities of line management. It covers how to determine accident causes, report accidents, inspect work areas, promote safety and health, and complete job safety analyses.

You can review Handbook EL-801 on the corporate intranet at http://blue.usps.gov (click on Information, then Policies and Procedures, then Hankdbooks, then either By Document ID Number or By Title, and then scroll down to

Handbook EL-801). Employees can place orders for Handbook EL-801 from the MDC by one of the following means:

· Touch Tone Order Entry: Call 1-800-332-0317, option 1, then option 2.

· cc:Mail: Send an F3Fill-completed PS Form 7380, MDC Supply Requisition, by cc:Mail to MDC Customer Service at TOKS001L.

· Official Mail: Send a completed PS Form 7380, MDC Supply Requisition, to the following address:

SUPPLY REQUISITIONS
500 SW GARY ORMSBY DR
TOPEKA KS 66624-9702

The relevant ordering information is as follows:

PSN: 7610-02-000-9938
PSIN: HBK EL-800
Unit of Issue: Each
Quick Pick #: 358
Bulk Pack Quantity: 50
Price: $0.5464
Edition Date: May 2001

- Safety Performance Management,Employee Resource Management, 10-4-01

Health Benefits Open Season

The 2001 Federal Employees Health Benefits Open Season is scheduled for November 12 through December 10, 2001. During this open season, eligible employees may make any one, or a combination of, the following changes:

- Enroll if not enrolled.

- Change from one plan to another plan.

- Change from one option to another option.

- Change from Self Only to Self and Family.

- Change from Self and Family to Self Only.

- Cancel enrollment.

- Change from pre-tax to post-tax payment of health insurance premiums, or vice versa.

Enrollment changes and new enrollments made during the 2001 open season will be effective January 12, 2002 (Pay Period 03-02).

Special Note: The 2002 plan year will end on December 31, 2002. Based on current information provided by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the 2003 plan year and all future plan years will begin on January 1.

Distribution of Open Season Materials

Employees

Prior to the start of open season, the 2002 Guides to Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Plans for (1) Career employees (RI 70-2); (2) Nurses (RI 70-2B); (3) Postal Inspection Service and Office of Inspector General (OIG) employees (RI 70-2IN); and (4) Certain temporary noncareer employees (RI 70-8PS) will be mailed from the national level to each employee's address of record. Each 2002 Guide includes:

- An overview of FEHB Program eligibility requirements and election choices during open season.

- A comparison of biweekly premium costs of participating plans.

- An explanation of the pre-tax payment feature, including a revised listing of qualified life status changes.

- Enrollee survey results provided by the individual health plans.

- Information about accreditation of the key systems and processes that managed care organizations use.

Installations

There is a change in the distribution list for the materials that are being distributed automatically. Distribution will be made to the same list used for Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) materials distribution. This distribution is to all customer service district offices, processing and distribution centers, airport mail centers, bulk mail centers, remote encoding centers, the Office of Inspector General and selected Postal Inspection Service Divisions, and selected Headquarters field units.

Personnel offices will receive through automatic distribution:

- RI 70-2, 2002 Guide to FEHB Plans (postal career employees) - NSN 7690-03-000-3774.

- RI 70-2IN, 2002 Guide to FEHB Plans (United States Postal Service (USPS) Inspectors and Office of Inspector General employees).

- RI 70-5, 2002 Guide to FEHB Plans (temporary continuation of coverage and former spouses) - NSN 7690-03-000-3772.

- Most fee-for-service plan brochures.

Personnel offices must requisition the following item from the Topeka Material Distribution Center (MDC) using the item number, name, and national stock number (NSN):

- RI 70-8 PS, 2002 Guide to FEHB Plans (certain temporary/non-career employees) - NSN 7690-03-000-3754.

Automatic distribution by the Rural Carrier Benefit Plan will be made to District and Area Human Resources offices (not to the TSP/FSA installation distribution list). Offices may also requisition additional copies from the Topeka MDC:

- RI 72-5, Rural Carriers Benefit Plan (individual plan brochure for the Rural Carriers closed enrollment fee-for-service plan) - NSN 7690-03-000-3809.

Order directly from General Services Administration (GSA) Supply Centers using normal FEDSTRIP/MILSTRIP procedures. Contact your local procurement or material management staff for specific instructions.

- SF 2809, Health Benefits Registration Form (July 1999 edition only) - NSN 7540-01-231-6227.

Order from Headquarters Compensation Insurance Officer, if needed (limited supply):

- RI 70-2B, 2002 Guide to FEHB Plans (for Nurses).

- PS Form 8201, Pre-Tax Health Insurance Premium Waiver/ Restoration Form for Career Employees.

- PS Form 8202, Pre-Tax Health Insurance Premium Waiver/Restoration Form for Non-career Employees.

Order directly from plan sponsors:

- Brochures for health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and Point-of-Service Plans (POSs).

Additional Information

Publication 12, Health Benefits Open Season Administrative and Processing Information (November 2001), addresses FEHB open season administrative issues in more detail than the various guides. It contains information on:

- Open season materials, including details of when and how to requisition a residual supply of materials.

- Eligibility requirements for coverage.

- A list of FEHB health plan withdrawals and other changes.

- Comprehensive medical plan (HMO) contact information.

- Personnel processing information.

- Open season publicity material.

Publication 12 may be found on the Postal Service Human Resources Intranet web site at http://blue.usps.gov/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub12.pdf.

Compensation,Employee Resources Management, 10-4-01

National, International, and Special Relief Organizations

Local organizations begin on page 16.

Local Relief Organizations - New York City, NY

Local Relief Organizations - Washington, DC

RURAL CARRIERS

Equipment Maintenance Allowance Schedule for Rural Routes

In accordance with provisions of Article 9, Section 2.J.3 of the Rural Carrier National Agreement, effective October 6, 2001 (pay period 22-01), the equipment maintenance allowance (EMA) will decrease from 40.5 cents per mile to 39.0 cents per mile.

The EMA is 39.0 cents per mile, or a minimum of $15.60 per day, whichever is greater.

Auxiliary Rural Carriers, Rural Carrier Reliefs, Rural Carrier Associates, Rural Carrier Part-Time Flexibles, and Auxiliary Assistance

Employees providing auxiliary assistance or serving auxiliary routes under provisions of Article 9, Section 2.J.5, receive an EMA of 39.0 cents per mile or a minimum of $4.50 per hour, whichever is greater. This EMA should not exceed the amount provided in the special EMA for the route stops and miles.

EMA Rate Schedule

The EMA rate schedule on pages 18-19 supersedes all previously published rate schedules for employees receiving EMA.

Optional EMA Rate

The optional EMA rate, effective November 4, 2000, remains at 65 cents per mile.

- Collective Bargaining and Arbitration,Labor Relations, 10-4-01

2001 Combined Federal Campaign Guidelines

Schedule and Responsibilities

Each fall, the Postal Service joins other federal agencies in the Combined Federal Campaign drive. In accordance with Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations, the campaign runs for a 6-week period between September 1 and December 15, as established by the Local Federal Coordinating Committee.

Vice presidents of Area Operations have campaign responsibility. Area offices must ensure that campaign information is disseminated to all offices in their jurisdiction.

Guidelines Online

Publication 530, Combined Federal Campaign Operational Guidelines, May 1994, explains how to carry out a successful campaign. The November 1998 update of Publication 530 (only available on the Postal Service Intranet) revised position titles, facility locations, and dates of campaign. The OPM web site (http://www.opm.gov) offers additional information on the Combined Federal Campaign, including geographic boundaries.

Pledge Form Management Instructions

1. Make sure local campaign staff check pledge forms for completeness.

2. Distribute pledge forms as follows:

a. Central Receipt and Accounting copy - submit to appropriate CFC official.

b. Employee copy - return to employee.

c. Payroll Office copy -

3. Submit corrections to the local DDE/DR site, not to the Eagan ISC.

Note: All cards that are illegible or incomplete will be returned to the local CFC coordinator for local processing in pay period 03/02 or later.

Local DDE/DR sites are to be notified by broadcast message of their ability to access D20M, SDI-09 in pay period 03/02 for local entry, changes, or corrections. DDE/DR sites are not allowed access to D20M for CFC charity entries before that time.

Final Report

At the end of each campaign, the Eagan Information Service Center (ISC) prepares a report from the Postal Payroll System of CFC contributions through payroll deduction (as of pay period 03) as the annual report of national CFC contributions. Each performance cluster manager receives a copy.

- Employee Resource Management, 10-4-01

Purchasing and Materials

Phase I Contract Awarded - Aggregated Natural Gas Contract

Purchasing and Materials and Environmental Management Policy (EMP) are working together on various supply chain management (SCM) initiatives to stabilize and reduce energy costs. On July 23, 2001, the Windsor Purchasing and Materials Service Center (PMSC) awarded the first aggregated natural gas requirements contract for 125 Postal Service facilities located in the Eastern Area (formerly Allegheny Area) (18), New York Metro Area (70), and Capital Metro Operations (37). The contract was awarded to Tiger Natural Gas, Inc., of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a small, minority, woman-owned, Native American supplier. The Windsor PMSC is directing and coordinating the contracting effort for these SCM initiatives as the designated Center of Excellence (COE) for energy-related procurements. EMP provides national energy program integration and technical support.

This contract was awarded for one year with a one-year renewal option. Deliveries began October 1 to most facilities. The balance of facilities will receive delivery on November 1. Under the terms of the contract, Tiger purchases the natural gas and transportation to the local servicing utility. The local utility delivers the natural gas to the Postal Service facility.

This contract award brings a level of price stability to this commodity. The cost of natural gas transportation is reduced by leveraging the requirements of many of the largest consuming facilities and by reducing administrative effort through use of a single contract. It is estimated that these areas will realize minimum savings of 11.5 percent on natural gas transportation.

Benefits to the Postal Service

This contract provides the following benefits to the Postal Service:

· Consolidated invoices for transportation and utility delivery.

· Electronic data interchange (EDI) billing (within 6 months of contract award).

· Accurate and timely consumption data (through electronic file transfer and EDI).

· Improved buying practices and identification of further cost saving measures.

The largest natural gas consumers in these areas are included in this Phase I contract. Low-to-moderate consuming facilities in these areas will continue to receive natural gas transportation and delivery through their current utility. These low-to-moderate consuming facilities, however, may later be included by a contract modification subject to data availability, market price, cost savings, and/or cost avoidance potential.

Other Energy SCM Initiatives

The Postal Service partnered with the General Services Administration (GSA) to take advantage of the recent deregulation of electricity in New York state. Under this partnership, GSA collected consumption data, prepared the solicitation, and contracted with a third party to conduct a reverse auction for electricity generation. On April 25, GSA awarded a three-year firm fixed cost contract to AES New Energy to provide electricity generation at the rate of $.1080 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Under this contract, 275 Postal Service facilities located in the New York Metro Area began receiving electricity from AES New Energy in June. This award also brings a level of price stability by securing a firm-fixed price for electricity generation for the next three years. It is estimated that these facilities will achieve minimum cost avoidance of 25 percent on the cost of electricity generation annually. Based on aggregated annual spending, cumulative cost avoidance will be significant.

Phase II Natural Gas

The Energy COE is collecting data for a Phase II aggregated natural gas contracting effort for the largest facilities located in the Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Great Lakes, Western, Eastern, and Pacific Areas. A multiple contract award is expected in April-May 2002.

Electricity Purchases

Similar data collection efforts are under way to purchase electricity generation in those deregulated states with competitive electricity markets. These states include Texas, Ohio, Maine, Arizona, and Massachusetts. Contract awards are expected in January-February 2002.

For questions, call Deborah Wilcox-Loos, purchasing specialist, Windsor PMSC, 1-860-285-7343.

- Purchasing Policies and Programs,Purchasing and Materials, 10-4-01

2002-Year Type for Hand Stamp and Cancelling Machines

The 2002-year type for hand stamp and cancelling machines will be automatically distributed to all Postal Service facilities that received 2001-year types for hand stamps and cancelling machines. The Material Distribution Center (MDC) mailed postcard notifications September 21, 2001, to each Postal Service facility that received the 2001-year type.

If NO changes in year types are needed, do NOT mail the postcard.

If changes are needed, each site must make changes on the preaddressed postcard and drop it in the mail. Complete instructions are on the postcard.

If your facility needs the 2002-year type for hand stamp or cancelling machines but has not received a postcard notification by October 12, 2001, contact Materials Customer Service at 800-332-0317, option 4, no later than October 19, 2001. Please be ready to give the customer service representative the PSIN number for the item needed, the quantity, and the Federal Standard Requisitioning and Issue Procedures (FEDSTRIP) number for the ordering facility. The MDC will ship the year type no later than December 15, 2001. Allow 10 to 14 days for delivery.

To determine the proper year type for cancelling machines, check the model number on the machine nameplate. Use Exhibit 15 in Publication 247, Supply and Equipment Catalog, as a guide for ordering the correct type.

1. PSIN O76E for Models D, K, and G new style cancelling machines using 77, 225, and 218-A die hubs (NSN 7520-01-363-9283).

2. PSIN O103HD2 for Models HD-2 cancelling machines (NSN 7490-00-920-9277).

3. PSIN O217E for Model G cancelling machines using 218 die hubs (NSN 7520-01-363-9279).

4. PSIN O691G for Model Flier and M machines using 1207-G die hubs (NSN 7520-01-363-9280).

5. PSIN O702A for steel postmarked, hammer type (NSN 7520-01-363-9281).

6. PSIN O718A for steel post marker, rotary type (NSN 7520-01-363-9282).

7. PSIN O642 rubber, for use on Nos. 550, 570, 552 (NSN 7520-01-000-9100).

8. PSIN O744, steel, for use w/ No. 700 w/o flange (NSN 7520-01-364-1911).

9. PSIN O747, steel, for use w/ No. 700 w/ flange (NSN 7520-01-364-3887).

The 2002-year type for Mark II Facer Cancellers, NSN 7490-04-000-2002, will be distributed automatically to all plant maintenance facilities that received the 2001-year type. This year type is also used on the flats cancelling machine (Model 15) and the advanced facer canceller system (AFCS) machine, both lead and trail. Only plant maintenance facilities may order this year type. Plant maintenance facilities are responsible for supplying this year type to all offices they service.

- Materials, Purchasing and Materials, 10-4-01

Exclusive Tire Contract Awarded to Goodyear

On September 8, 2001, the Memphis Purchasing and Materials Service Center (PMSC), working with Delivery Vehicle Operations, awarded a 10-year contract to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to supply all new tire needs of the Postal Service. Goodyear became the exclusive supplier of new tires for the Postal Service on September 30, 2001, after the current tire contracts expired.

Under the Goodyear contract agreement, the Postal Service expects to purchase approximately 235,000 new Goodyear tires each year to outfit its fleet of more than 200,000 trucks, vans, and delivery vehicles. The nationwide fleet of Postal Service vehicles travels a combined total of more than 1.1 billion miles annually. The Postal Service expects to save at least 10 percent on the cost of tires each year for the life of the contract.

Items of supply, ordering instructions, supplier contact names, and telephone numbers were provided in Vehicle Maintenance Bulletin V-16-01, Tire Ordering Contract, September 12, 2001.

As part of the contract agreement, participating Goodyear retailers, as an added value, will offer all Postal Service employees significant savings on their personal tire and automobile service needs under a special Goodyear VIP Program. VIP Program discounts include:

· Lube, oil, and filter for $14.95 (most vehicles).

· 15 percent off automotive services.*

· 10 percent off Goodyear-brand tires.*

* Percentage discounts are off-sale, everyday, or retail prices - whichever price is the lowest.

The VIP Program is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of postal fiscal year 2002. Program specifics for participation and the exact effective date will be announced in either a future Postal Bulletin article or in another Postal Service publication.

- Purchasing Policies and Programs,Purchasing and Materials, 10-4-01

PUBLICATION 247 CORRECTION

Ordering Procedures for Postmarking Ring Dies and Die Hubs

In Postal Bulletin 22045 (3-8-01, page 60), the last Part # in section 123.3231 for Hanley Postal Supply, Inc., was listed incorrectly.

The correct Part # is 256478-2.

- Materials, Purchasing and Materials, 10-4-01

Quick Pick List

When accessing the material distribution center (MDC) Touch Tone Order Entry (TTOE) system, sites can use either the 13-digit stock number or the three-digit quick pick number (if one has been assigned). Included in this Postal Bulletin are the most recent quick pick list on pages 25-34 and the instructions for using TTOE on page 24. These instructions and the most current quick pick list can also be downloaded from the Purchasing and Materials Web site at http://blue.usps.gov/purchase/material (click on Download Files, then Other Files, and then QuickPick).

Column heading abbreviations: QP# = quick pick number; PSN = postal stock number; UI = unit of issue; Iss Incr = issue increment; BPQ = bulk pack quantity; DVD = direct vendor delivery.

Unit of issue abbreviations: BK = book; BT = bottle; BX = box; CD = card; CE = cone; CN = can; CT = carton; DZ = dozen; EA = each; FT = foot; GL = gallon; HD = hundred; MX = thousand; PD = pad; PG = package; PR = pair; PT = pint; RL = reel; RM = ream; RO = roll; SE = set; SH = sheet; SL = spool.

Disclaimer notice: The listed prices and bulk pack quantities (BPQs) are subject to change as new inventories are received at the MDCs. Items marked with an * are ordered through the MDC but shipped directly from the vendor. For the latest price information, contact Materials Customer Service at 800-332-0317, option 3 (available 24 hours a day).

Quick Pick List - Supply Items (FY2002, catalog date 9/14/2001)