(Post Offices section continued)

Postal Employees

REVISED COURSE

Employee Development Offers Course No. 44506-13, Scheduling and Premium Pay Interactive Course

Course No. 44506-13 is newly revised and now available on CD-ROM and on the Web at http://nced.usps.gov/sppi. This 1-hour course focuses on the factors affecting the development and/or maintenance of a work schedule that comply with regulations and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The course focuses on developing competencies involved in preparing work schedules. The learning objectives include:

• Defining scheduling.

• Identifying and explaining key points of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

• Explaining Guarantee Pay.

• Applying 8 scheduling control activities used by management.

• Citing at least 5 examples of disallowed time.

• Explaining 10 elements of the Employee Activity Report (EAR).

• Using PS Form 1017A, Time Disallowance Record; PS Form 1017B, Unauthorized Overtime Record; PS Form 3971, Request for or Notification of Absence; and PS Form 3189, Request for Temporary Schedule Change for Personal Convenience.

• Using Scheduling and Premium Pay reference materials.

• Defining factors affecting the development and/or maintenance of schedules.

• Defining the 6 types of premium pay.

• Defining exceptions to the out-of-schedule premium pay rules.

• Defining the guidelines regarding the Overtime Desired List (OTDL).

The course is designed for anyone involved in preparing work schedules, developmental purposes, and/or refresher training for incumbent postmasters.

Order copies of the CD-ROM from the Material Distribution Center as follows:

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

• cc:Mail: Send an F3 Fill-completed PS Form 7380, MDC Supply Requisition, by cc:Mail to MDC Customer Service at TOKS001L.

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

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

The relevant ordering information is as follows:

PSIN: CPG 44506-13
Description: Scheduling and Premium Pay Interactive Course
PSN: 6910-05-000-4547
Unit of Issue: Each
Price: $8.85
Edition Date: August 2001

To obtain further course information, call Employee Development at (202) 268-8703.

- Employee Development,Employee Resource Management, 11-15-01

NOTICE

Policy on Monitoring Employee Computer Use

Effective November 15, 2001, the Postal Service policy on computer use, titled "Computer Use," is available on the PolicyNet page at http://blue.usps.gov/cpim; click on MOPs, then on <Select a Category>, then on Information Technology.

This policy is addressed to all computer users and advises that to protect its computer systems, data, and e-mail, the Postal Service may monitor computer use and information contained in or passing through Postal Service information resources. Authorized personnel may monitor information such as network traffic, applications, electronic data, and e-mail/Internet usage.

The policy discusses when monitoring is performed, the requirements associated with requesting monitoring of message content, and the importance of users understanding the limitations on privacy when using government property.

To ensure awareness of and agreement to the terms on computer use, a warning banner will be displayed to users when they log in or sign on to internal or Postal Service Intranet information resources.

- Information Technology,Chief Technology Officer, 11-15-01

Flexible Spending Accounts Open Season and PostalEASE

Open season for the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) program for career employees is November 12 through December 18, 2001. Enrollments made during this open season are effective January 1, 2002, for the 2002 plan year (January 1 through December 31, 2002).

FSAs provide employees with the ability to set aside a portion of their pre-tax earnings for certain types of out-of- pocket health care and dependent care expenses. The money withheld for FSAs is not subject to income, Medicare, or Social Security taxes. United Health Care administers the FSA program for the Postal Service.

FSA BK1, Flexible Spending Accounts (November 2001), provides a good overview of FSAs. The following information should assist local personnel offices in conducting this open season.

PostalEASE Used for Enrollment

The PostalEASE telephone enrollment system is the method employees must use to enroll in FSAs during open season. PS Form 8200, Flexible Spending Account Enrollment Form, is obsolete. Discard any PS Forms 8200 by recycling them.

Publicity

To assist in publicizing FSA open season, all offices must post the open season notice on page 10 on bulletin boards through December 18, 2001.

Direct Mailings to Employees

Headquarters (HQ) Compensation is coordinating FSA open season mailings to career employees at their mailing addresses of record. Employees receive a leaflet, three postcards, and an enrollment kit with an FSA brochure, a PostalEASE FSA worksheet, and a withdrawal request form. When a kit mailed to an employee is undeliverable, the kit is returned to the employing office of record. When an office receives a returned kit, it should encourage the employee to submit a correct PS Form 1216, Employee's Current Mailing Address. PS Form 1216 may be ordered from the Material Distribution Center (MDC) using Postal Stock Number 7530-02-000-7354 or through Touch Tone Order Entry (TTOE) using Quick Pick number 118.

Eligibility

Participation in the FSA program is limited to career employees. Furthermore, to enroll, a career employee must have completed at least 26 full pay periods of postal career service during the current appointment by the end of pay period (PP) 26-01 (December 14, 2001). A career employee who is in a leave without pay (LWOP) status that has lasted for more than eight consecutive full pay periods as of December 14, 2001, is not eligible to participate in the FSA program. (However, as noted in the FSA brochure, an employee who is returning from uniformed military service may enroll, even if he or she is over the eight pay periods of LWOP.)

Election Opportunities

Health and Dependent Care FSAs

Eligible career employees may elect to participate in either, or both, of two FSAs - the Health Care FSA and the Dependent Care FSA. Each FSA covers eligible expenses for services received during the employee's period of participation during 2002 plan year (January 1 through December 31, 2002). Employees who elect to participate must enroll via PostalEASE no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on December 18, 2001. The brochure that employees receive in the mail describes eligible and ineligible expenses and guidelines for estimating 2002 expenses.

FSA Open Season Contribution Levels

For the 2002 plan year, eligible career bargaining unit employees may elect to contribute up to $2,600, and career nonbargaining unit employees may elect to contribute up to $5,000 to the Health Care FSA. All eligible career employees may elect to contribute up to $5,000 to the Dependent Care FSA. Contributions are withheld in equal amounts through payroll deductions covering 26 pay periods (PP 01-2002 through PP 26-2002). The minimum annual contribution employees may make to either FSA is $130 ($5 per pay period).

Election Changes and Enrollment Processing

Participants may not cancel enrollments or change contribution levels during the plan year except following qualified life status changes, as explained in the brochure.

Open Season Materials

Direct Mailings to Career Employees

Each career employee receives the following items at his or her mailing address of record:

• Three publicity postcards with: instructions on how to obtain a USPS Personal Identification Number (PIN) in early November, examples of typical FSA cost savings in mid-November, and a reminder of the closing date.

• FSA LF1, Flexible Spending Accounts Overview and Tax Savings Estimator (November 2001), a leaflet that outlines how FSAs work in a simple question- and-answer format and also contains a tax savings estimator. (This item was mailed in late October.)

• An enrollment kit including:

- FSA BK1, Flexible Spending Accounts (November 2001), a brochure explaining plan policies and provisions.

- The FSA PostalEASE Worksheet.

- FSA1, Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Withdrawal Request (November 2001), the form used to request to withdraw funds from an FSA for payment of eligible expenses for services received during the period of participation.

Enrollment Form

As noted above, PS Form 8200, Flexible Spending Account Enrollment Form, is obsolete. Discard any PS Forms 8200 by recycling them.

Extra Supplies of Materials

HQ Compensation coordinates a contractor's distribution of extra supplies of the leaflet, enrollment kit (brochure, worksheet, and withdrawal request form) and stand-alone copies of the worksheet and withdrawal request form to Human Resources at district offices, area offices, processing and distribution centers, bulk mail centers, airport mail centers, remote encoding centers, the Office of Inspector General, Inspection Service divisions, Headquarters, and selected Headquarters field units by the beginning of the open season.

Additional copies of the following FSA items will be available for ordering, but not until the distribution of extra supplies has been completed:

• FSA LF1 (7610-04-000-5138, no Quick Pick number).

• FSA BK1 (7530-02-000-9910, no Quick Pick number).

• FSA1 (7530-02-000-9911, no Quick Pick number).

When available, FSA LF1, FSA BK1, and FSA1 can be ordered using PS 7380, MDC Supply Requisition, or TTOE.

Responsibilities of Personnel Offices

• Respond to employee inquiries regarding eligibility.

• Determine eligibility to enroll or to change contribution levels during the plan year based upon the participant's qualified life status changes.

Offices are reminded of the following points:

• Offices may refer to PostalEASE Update 2001-03 (June 4, 2001) for instructions on processing FSA elections in cases of belated election or administrative error; these instructions are found at http://blue.usps.gov/hrisp/hris/updates/postalease/ 2001/.

• PostalEASE reminds employees to include health care expenses for dependents in the Health Care FSA contribution amount, and not in the Dependent Care FSA. Although the brochure and worksheet advise employees of this provision, some employees did not properly follow this distinction in past open seasons.

• PostalEASE also reminds employees of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) annual limits on the Dependent Care FSA contribution - $5,000 for a family and $2,500 for a married employee filing a sepa- rate return. These limits are explained fully in the brochure.

• Offices do not process form FSA1 (request to withdraw FSA funds for the payment of eligible expenses). Participants are responsible for mailing these directly to the FSA Customer Service Center at the address in Albany, New York, which is shown on the form.

• Offices must not provide tax advice. Offices must refer employees with tax questions to their tax advisors or the IRS toll-free information line, 1-800-TAX-1040 (1-800-829-1040). In addition, a section of the brochure presents certain tax information related to FSAs.

• Offices should refer employees with questions about the FSA program to the toll-free hotline described below.

FSA Customer Service Center Toll-Free Hotline

The FSA Customer Service Center provides a toll-free hotline for inquiries about FSAs. Employees with FSA questions may use the hotline by calling 1-800-842-2026. Following enrollment, participants may use the hotline to:

• Make account inquiries.

• Discuss expenses that are eligible for payment through the FSA program.

• Obtain other plan information.

The FSA Customer Service Center also provides a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) line for employees who are deaf or hard of hearing: 1-866-649-4869. The FSA Customer Service Center encourages employees using the TDD line to place an advance call to the toll-free hotline.

- Compensation,Employee Resource Management, 11-15-01

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Open Season and PostalEASE

Enrollment Career employees must use the PostalEASE telephone enrollment system if they wish to enroll in FSAs for 2002 during the FSA open season.

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

Career employees who have trouble using PostalEASE, or who are unable to use a telephone because they are deaf, hard of hearing, or for other medical reasons, may contact the local personnel office.

USPS PIN To use PostalEASE, enter your Social Security Number and USPS Personal Identification Number (PIN). An employee who doesn't know his or her USPS PIN should call PostalEASE and, when prompted to enter the PIN, simply pause, and the system provides an option to have the PIN mailed to the employee's address of record the next business day.

When November 12 through 5:00 p.m. Central Time on December 18, 2001.

Eligibility Career employees only - noncareer employees are not eligible.

Plan Information Leaflet, brochure with PostalEASE FSA Worksheet included, mailed to all career employees.

If not received by November 28, 2001, contact local personnel office.

Effective Date FSA open season enrollments become effective January 1, 2002.

Questions Hotline for FSA questions: 1-800-842-2026.

TDD line for hearing impaired: 1-866-649-4869. Advance call to hotline encouraged.

PLEASE POST ON ALL BULLETIN BOARDS THROUGH DECEMBER 18, 2001.

NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES

THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN FACT SHEET

Percentage returns released November 5, 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.

Annual Leave Exchange Option

The Annual Leave Exchange Program provides an option for eligible employees to receive a lump sum payment in exchange for a portion of the annual leave that would otherwise be advanced at the beginning of the 2002 leave year. Annual leave earned and accumulated through the 2001 leave year, which ends January 11, 2002, cannot be exchanged for cash.

Eligible employees include full-time and part-time regular:

• Career nonbargaining unit employees (Rate Schedule Codes E, F, J, S, and U) who have an annual leave balance of at least 160 hours at the end of the leave year.

• Employees represented by the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (Rate Schedule Codes A and M) who have an annual leave balance of at least 440 hours at the end of the leave year and have used less than 75 hours of sick leave during the leave year.

• Employees represented by the International Association of Machinists (Rate Schedule Code T) who have an annual leave balance of at least 440 hours at the end of the leave year and have used less than 75 hours of sick leave during the leave year.

• Employees covered by the National American Postal Workers Union Agreement (Rate Schedule Codes C and P) who have an annual leave balance of at least 440 hours at the end of the leave year and have used less than 75 hours of sick leave during the leave year.

• Employees covered by the Operating Services Division Agreement (Rate Schedule Code K) who have an annual leave balance of at least 440 hours at the end of the leave year and have used less than 75 hours of sick leave during the leave year.

• Employees covered by the Fraternal Order of Police Agreement (Rate Schedule Code Y) who have an annual leave balance of at least 440 hours at the end of the leave year and have used less than 75 hours of sick leave during the leave year.

A letter providing details of the eligibility criteria and an annual leave exchange option form will be mailed to eligible employees at their address of record by November 14, 2001. Undeliverable election forms will be returned to the personnel office, which should ensure that they are forwarded to the employee's work location along with PS Form 1216, Employee's Current Mailing Address.

An employee who meets the eligibility criteria must use PostalEASE to make the election. To be considered timely, entries to PostalEASE must be completed by close of business December 15, 2001. An employee who is unable to use PostalEASE to complete the election should contact the local Personnel Office prior to December 15, 2001, for assistance.

Payment under the Annual Leave Exchange Program will be a lump sum calculated on the employee's base salary as of the first day of the 2002 leave year (January 12, 2002). Paychecks dated February 01, 2002, will include the 2002 lump sum payment.

- Compensation, Human Resources, 11-15-01

PLEASE POST ON ALL BULLETIN BOARDS THROUGH DECEMBER 18, 2001.

Purchasing and Materials

PM REVISION

Privacy Protection

Effective November 15, 2001, the Purchasing Manual (PM) is revised to provide new policy regarding privacy protection. The main body of the revision is to PM sections 1.7.4 and 1.7.5, with ancillary revisions to 4.6.3, Professional Services, and 4.6.5, Information Technology. A new clause, Clause 1-1, Privacy Protection, replaces current Clause 1-1, Privacy Act, and Clause 1-7, Nondisclosure of Address Information.

We will incorporate these revisions into the online version of the PM available on the Postal Service Intranet at http://blue.usps.gov/cpim and on the Postal Service Internet at www.usps.com.

Purchasing Manual (PM)

1 Authority, Responsibility and Policy

* * * * *

1.7 General Policies

* * * * *

1.7.4 Release and Exchange of Information

[Revise 1.7.4 to read as follows:]

1.7.4.a General. The Postal Service makes records, data, and information available to the public to the maximum extent consistent with the Postal Service's interest, the privacy rights of individuals, ownership of rights in the data requested (see Chapter 8), and the need to protect Postal Service and other confidential business information (including information relating to the Postal Service's commercial operations) from disclosure.

1.7.4.b Release. Records properly identified and requested by any member of the public must be made available in accordance with subchapter 35, Administrative Support Manual, and 39 CFR 265, implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (6 U.S.C. 552), unless exempt from disclosure.

1.7.4.c Exchange. Subject to any restrictions on disclosure, the Postal Service exchanges information with other government agencies regarding the performance of suppliers.

[Revise title and text of 1.7.5 to read as follows:]

1.7.5 Privacy Protection

1.7.5.a Policy. Whenever a supplier will be required to design, develop, or operate a system of records within the meaning of the Privacy Act (that is, any group of records under the control of the Postal Service, including mailing lists, from which information is retrieved by the name of an individual or by some personal identifier assigned to the individual, such as a Social Security number), the contract must require that the supplier and any subcontractors comply with the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a). As required by 1.7.5.b below, contracts must direct suppliers and subcontractors to comply with the Postal Service's policies protecting individual privacy and Postal Service information and records (39 CFR 266-267), and the Postal Service's Internet Privacy Policy published at www.usps.com.

1.7.5.b Clause 1-1, Privacy Protection. Clause 1-1, Privacy Protection, addresses privacy protections and must be included in:

1. Contracts in which a supplier or subcontractor operates a Privacy Act system on the Postal Service's behalf;

2. Contracts in which a supplier or subcontractor will have access to any Postal Service customer data, including address information or data regarding visitors to Postal Service web sites;

3. Contracts in which a supplier or subcontractor will have access to customer or visitor data on a Postal Service web site operated by the Postal Service or the supplier or subcontractor, or in which a supplier or subcontractor assists the Postal Service in establishing or administering a web site; and

4. Contracts in which a supplier or subcontractor designs or places a link or ad banner on a Postal Service web site or any web site on the Postal Service's behalf.

* * * * *

4 Purchasing

* * * * *

4.6 Special Categories of Purchases

* * * * *

4.6.3 Professional/Technical and Consultant Services

* * * * *

4.6.3.c Professional and Technical Services

* * * * *

[Add item (c) to 4.6.3.c.4 to read as follows:]

(c) Clause 1-1, Privacy Protection, must be included as applicable. See 1.7.5.

* * * * *

4.6.5 Information Technology

* * * * *

4.6.5.f Clauses

* * * * *

[Add item 11 to 4.6.5.f to read as follows:]

11. Clause 1-1, Privacy Protection, must be included as applicable. See 1.7.5.

* * * * *

Appendix B - Contract Clauses

* * * * *

B.3 Clauses

* * * * *

[Revise title and text of Clause 1-1 to read as follows:]

Clause 1-1 Privacy Protection (November 2001) (1.7.5)

In addition to other provisions of the contract, the supplier agrees to the following:

a. Privacy Act. If the supplier operates a system of records on behalf of the Postal Service, the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and Postal Service regulations at 39 CFR Parts 266-267 apply to those records. The supplier is considered to operate a system of records if it manages records (including collecting, revising, or disseminating records) from which information is retrieved by the name of an individual or by some number, symbol, or other identifier assigned to the individual. The supplier agrees to comply with the Act and the Postal Service regulations in designing, developing, and operating the system of records, including ensuring that records are current and accurate for their intended use and incorporating adequate safeguards to prevent misuse or improper disclosure of personal information. Violations of the Act may subject the violator to criminal penalties.

b. Customer or Visitor Data. If the supplier has access to Postal Service customer data, including address information or data regarding visitors to Postal Service web sites, the supplier must comply with the following:

(1) General. The supplier may use such data solely for purposes of this contract, and may not collect or use such information for non-Postal Service marketing, promotion, or any other purpose. The supplier must restrict access to such data to those employees who need the data to perform work under this contract, and must ensure that each such employee (including subcontractors' employees) sign a nondisclosure agreement, in a form suitable to the contracting officer, prior to being granted access to the data.

(2) Data Ownership and Retention. The Postal Service retains sole ownership and rights to the data. Upon completion of the contract, the supplier must turn over all data in its possession to the Postal Service and must certify that no data has been retained. The supplier may not create or derive personally identifiable information about customers or visitors, except as expressly provided by the customer or visitor.

(3) Legal Demands for Information. If a legal demand is made for data (such as by subpoena), the supplier must immediately notify the contracting officer and the nearest office of the Postal Service Inspection Service. After notification, the Postal Service will determine whether and to what extent to comply with the legal demand. Should the Postal Service agree to or unsuccessfully resist a legal demand, the supplier may, with the written permission of the contracting officer, release the data specifically demanded.

c. Online Assistance. If the supplier has access to customer or visitor data obtained from a Postal Service web site, or a web site operated by the supplier on behalf of the Postal Service, or if the supplier assists in the design, development, or operation of a customer web site for the Postal Service, the following apply:

(1) Privacy Policy. The supplier agrees to act as the agent of the Postal Service and to adhere to all provisions of the Postal Service's Internet Privacy Policy available at www.usps.com.

(2) Tracking Devices. Without prior written approval of the Postal Service's chief privacy officer, any cookies or other tracking devices used by supplier (a) may only be session, not persistent, devices; (b) may not collect or derive any personally identifiable information regarding the customer or visitor; and (c) may only serve to improve the efficiency of the customer's or visitor's use of the web site.

d. Links and Banners. If, on the Postal Service's behalf, the supplier places a link to a www.usps.com web site, or if it designs or places an ad banner, button, or link on a www.usps.com web site or any web site, the supplier must comply with the portion of the Postal Service Privacy Policy available at www.usps.com relating to (a) links and banners, and (b) use of tracking devices. The placement of any device not permitted under the Postal Service's Privacy Policy requires the prior written approval of the Postal Service's chief privacy officer.

e. Indemnification. The supplier hereby indemnifies the Postal Service against all liability (including costs and fees) for damages arising out of violations of this clause.

f. Flow-down. The supplier will flow this clause down to subcontractors who would be covered by any portion of this clause if they were the supplier.

* * * * *

[Delete Clause 1-7 (do not renumber Clauses 1-8 through 1-4).]

* * * * *

- Purchasing Policies and Programs,Purchasing and Materials, 11-15-01

RESUBMIT ORDERS

Postal Keys and Locks

If your office ordered P.O. Box keys, regular or modified arrow locks and keys, and any other postal lock or key by mail after October 15, 2001, through the Mail Equipment Shops (MES), consider those requisitions not delivered. Resubmit those orders using the MES fax numbers listed below.

All mail addressed to the MES was processed through the Brentwood Road Processing and Distribution Center, and its release for delivery is still uncertain.

Orders submitted via Touch Tone Order Entry (TTOE) need not be resubmitted. If you have not registered to use TTOE and you wish to do so, call 1-800-332-0317, option 8, x2925. Follow the instructions and wait 48 hours before placing your first order. Locks are not available through TTOE.

Note: There are separate fax numbers for ordering (1) P.O. Box keys and (2) postal locks and their keys.

The fax numbers for P.O. Box keys are 202-281-2637 and 202-832-9172.

The fax number for postal locks and their keys is 202-281-2643.

Resubmit your mail orders as follows (Remember: Do not resubmit TTOE orders):

• P.O. Box keys, use PS Form 3915, Post Office Box Key Requisition.

• Postal locks and their keys, use PS Form 4983, Postal Key and Lock Requisition.

• Arrow locks #1035 or #1035-Y with swivel plate and extension, use PS Form 4983.

• Arrow keys, use PS Form 4983.

• Serial and metro locks and keys, use PS Form 4983.

• L.A. keys, use PS Form 4983.

• Rotary keys, use PS Form 4983.

• Modified arrow locks and keys, (MAL) 1036 and (MAL) 1036Y, submit a funded and completed PS Form 7381, Requisition for Supplies, Services, or Equipment.

• Rotary locks, order directly from the Material Distribution Center (MDC).

Copies of PS Forms 3915 and 4983 are available in Publication 247, Supply and Equipment Catalog; ordering instructions are in Chapter 1, section 127, Mail Equipment Shops.

For questions, call John Worth, MES, 202-281-2620, or send a cc:Mail to John L. Worth.

- Materials,Purchasing and Materials, 11-15-01

"United We Stand" Pins for Sale - Postal Service Purchase

Numerous field sites have requested the "United We Stand" pin featuring the 34-cent flag stamp that was recently unveiled to commemorate national unity.

You can order the pin using authorized Postal Service purchase methods from an authorized Postal Service vendor for direct delivery to Postal Service facilities.

The vendor address and contact information is as follows:

FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED (FII)
ONE WEINGEROFF BOULEVARD
CRANSTON RI 02910

Contact: Paul McConnell
Telephone: (401) 467-3170
FAX: (401) 785-1320

We will publish a comprehensive listing of authorized pin vendors in a future issue of the Postal Bulletin.

- Communications and Brand Equity,Public Affairs and Communications, 11-15-01

EBUY UPDATE

Custodial Products Catalogs Now on eBuy

On November 1, 2001, Cleanwise, Inc., and W. W. Grainger, Inc., custodial catalogs were converted to eBuy (see Postal Bulletin 22057, 8-23-01, page 102, for the introductory eBuy article, "eBuy Automates Buying Supplies and Services").

Mandatory Sources of Supply

Cleanwise, Inc. (Contract # 483083-01-B-0679), and W.W. Grainger, Inc. (Contract # 483083-01-B-0677), are mandatory sources of supply for all custodial products. Postal Service offices are required to fulfill all their custodial supply needs through those contracts. When using eBuy, remember that Administrative Support Manual (ASM) 722, Local Buying Authority, limits do not apply to orders placed under contracts or ordering agreements that are listed on eBuy (http://ebuy.usps.gov).

Credit Card Payments

Effective November 1, 2001 Cleanwise, Inc., and W. W. Grainger, Inc., no longer accept credit cards as payment for items in their eBuy catalogs. eBuy certifies Cleanwise, Inc., and W. W. Grainger, Inc., electronic invoices and sends them to San Mateo accounts payable for processing. Typically, San Mateo accounts payable holds payment of invoices for approximately 28 days before sending the electronic funds transfer to Cleanwise, Inc., and W. W. Grainger, Inc., as payment. Cleanwise, Inc., and W. W. Grainger, Inc., charges appear on the eBuy accounting period (AP) summary invoice report that is mailed to the "ship to" Federal Standard Requisitioning and Issue Procedures (FEDSTRIP) address for reconciliation.

eBuy Required

Employees having access to the Postal Service Intranet must use eBuy whenever the supply is listed on eBuy. The only exception to this requirement is for users who do not have access to the Postal Service Intranet. Those individuals without that access may continue to place telephone, fax, or mail orders with suppliers using their FEDSTRIP number. When placing telephone, fax, or mail orders, users must include both product number(s) and their FEDSTRIP number. The finance number associated with each user's FEDSTRIP number is automatically charged for items ordered via these alternative methods.

Shipping

All items are shipped either by the supplier's transportation network or by Standard Mail service. For items too large to ship via the mailstream, the supplier ships through commercial carriers. Pricing reflects all shipping costs.

Returns

To return an item, contact the appropriate supplier's customer service department and request a Return Authorization (RA) number and specific return instructions. eBuy suppliers submit an electronic credit request to eBuy, and the original order is credited.

Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act

Cleanwise, Inc., and W. W. Grainger, Inc., are approved Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Act distributors and have included JWOD manufactured items (excluding office supplies) in their eBuy catalogs.

Questions

For questions, the contacts are as follows:

• Cleanwise, Inc., call Customer Service, 877-778-8067.

• W.W. Grainger, Inc., call Customer Service, 800-GOV-TEAM.

• eBuy support and POC information, call eBuy Help Desk, 800-USPS-HEL(P), options 1, 2, 8.

• eBuy program, call James Leonard, eBuy program manager, 202-268-6230.

• Cleanwise, Inc., and W. W. Grainger, Inc., contract information, call Steve Carpenter, contracting officer, Dallas Purchasing and Materials Service Center, 214-819-7115, or send a cc:Mail to HELP, CUSTODIAL.

• Purchasing policy questions regarding the use of eBuy, call Mike Harris, 202-268-5653, or Bob Glasner, 202-268-2895.

- Purchasing Policies and Programs,Purchasing and Materials, 11-15-01

Retail

CORRECTION

Items Authorized for Sale in Self Service Vending Machines

The following is the corrected version of the article that appeared in Postal Bulletin 22061 (10-18-01, page 71). We deleted the heading "Quarter I" above the first table, and we added data to the second and third tables. Added data appears in bold here.

Listed below are items authorized for the Self Service Stamp Vending Program for calendar year 2002. Products not on this list (except FIRSTCLASS PHONECARDSŪ and coils of 500 and 3,000) must not be placed in vending machines. Also, products ending in "11" are to be placed only in booklet machines and the booklet/stamp combination machines (PBSM-624). No "11" products may be placed in commodity machines. All stamp item numbers will now have six digits, and all products previously ending in "X" will now end in "11."

Check with your stamp distribution office (SDO) for availability of stamp vending products. In FY 2002, Self Service will not reproduce Love Letters and Apples/Oranges books.

For all items marked with an asterisk in the tables below, the first day of issue will be announced in a future Postal Bulletin.

Products Used in Multi-Commodity Vending Machines

Products Used Only in Multi-Commodity Vending Machines - Not For Sale Over the Counter

Criss-Cross Products Used in Booklet Vending Machines

Self Service will not repackage the products listed in the table below after SDO inventories are exhausted. Vending personnel should check with their SDO for availability of the following products.

Products That Self Service Will Not Repackage

The National Stamp Vending Inventory and Vending Products Information are both posted on our intranet Web site at http://retail.usps.gov.

- Self Service,Retail, Consumers and Small Business, 11-15-01

Postal Bulletin Distribution

The GPO distributes the Postal Bulletin for the Postal Service to all postal facilities except classified stations and branches, contract postal units, and detached mail units, which receive copies from their administrative post office. The Postal Bulletin is also available online at http://www.usps.com (click on Info, then Postal Periodicals and Publications).

If your postal facility has access to cc:Mail, you may send a request for a new subscription order, an address and/or quantity change, or a subscription query to the cc:Mail address POSTAL BULLETIN. If you are using another email product, you can use the Internet emailaddress pbulleti@email.usps.gov.

If you do not have access to email, you may complete the order form and mail it to:

ATTN POSTAL BULLETIN
US POSTAL SERVICE
475 L'ENFANT PLZ SW RM 5540
WASHINGTON DC 20260-5540

Either way you send it, please include the "PO0"subscription number from your address label.