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Finance

INSTRUCTIONS

International Reply Coupons

Postal Bulletin 22061 (10-18-01, page 23) contained information regarding the new version of the International Reply Coupon (IRC) for calendar year 2002. Prior versions of U.S.-issued IRCs in inventories became obsolete as of the close of business December 31, 2001.

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) and stamp service centers (SSCs) were directed to submit their inventories of obsolete IRCs with the statement of account for accounting period (AP) 4, which ended December 28, 2001.

Instructions for Retail Units

Exchanged Foreign-Issued IRCs

• Retail units must return all exchanged foreign-issued IRCs to the main stock at non-Standard Field Accounting Procedures (non-SFAP) offices or to the unit reserve at SFAP units by the close of business February 1, 2002.

• Non-SFAP offices must submit all exchanged foreign-issued IRCs with the statement of account for accounting period (AP) 6, or postal quarter (PQ) II, ending February 22, 2002.

• SFAP units must submit all exchanged foreign- issued IRCs to their SDOs/SSCs prior to the close of AP 6, PQ II, to ensure receipt.

U.S.-Issued IRCs (Pre-2002)

• Retail units must return all U.S.-issued IRCs (pre-2002 versions only), both refunded and unsold inventories, to the main stock at non-SFAP offices or to the unit reserve at SFAP units by the close of business February 1, 2002.

• Non-SFAP offices must submit all U.S.-issued IRCs (pre-2002 versions only), both refunded and unsold inventories, with their statements of account for AP 6, or PQ II.

• SFAP units must submit all U.S.-issued IRCs (pre-2002 versions only), both refunded and unsold inventories, to their SDOs/SSCs prior to the close of AP 6, PQ II, to ensure receipt.

Note: District accounting offices served by an SDO must submit both the exchanged foreign-issued and U.S.- issued IRCs with their statements of account for AP 6.

Handbook F-1, Post Office Accounting Procedures, section 426.9, Handling International Reply Coupons, contains specific instructions for the collection and proper documentation of exchanged foreign-issued and U.S.-issued refunded IRCs for non-SFAP offices, SFAP units, SDOs, and SSCs. Because pre-2002 U.S.-issued IRCs are now obsolete, unsold inventories of pre-2002 U.S.-issued IRCs must be submitted with the U.S.-issued refunded IRCs. When submitting IRCs with the statement of account, package the exchanged foreign-issued, U.S.-issued refunded, and U.S.-issued unsold IRCs separately. Within each group, package by denomination (e.g., exchanged foreign-issued 60 cents from the 80 cents). The Eagan accounting service center (ASC) will accept only properly processed IRCs.

Redemption rates are as follows.

Exchanged Foreign-Issued Rate per Item
1-1-93 through 7-8-95 50 cents
7-9-95 through 1-6-01 60 cents
1-7-01 through 12-31-01 80 cents
U.S.-Issued Refunded (purchase price less 1 cent) Rate per Item
1-1-93 through 7-8-95 94 cents
7-9-95 through 1-6-01 $1.04
1-7-01 through 12-31-01 $1.74
U.S.-Issued Unsold (Inventory) Rate per Item
7-9-95 through 12-31-01 $1.05

Eagan Accounting Service Center (ASC)

We will issue special instructions regarding the disposition of U.S.-issued IRCs to the Eagan ASC.

- Revenue and Field Accounting,Finance, 1-24-02


International Mail

ICM UPDATES

International Customized Mail

We have combined ICM updates into one Postal Bulletin article to save space and paper. Twenty-six ICM updates appear on the following pages.

On October 19, 2001, the Postal Service amended an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement dated January 12, 2001. The Agreement was published in Postal Bulletin 22060 (10-4-01, page 27). The Amendment modifies the Agreement to extend the existing Agreement. In accordance with International Mail Manual (IMM) 297.4, the Postal Service previously announced entering into an International Customized Mail Service Agreement with this qualifying mailer and now makes public the following information regarding this Amendment:

a. Term: January 15, 2001, through May 31, 2002.

b. Type of mail: All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

c. Destination countries: All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

d. Service provided by the Postal Service: All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

e. Minimum volume commitments: All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

f. Worksharing: All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

g. Rates: All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

On October 20, 2001, the Postal Service entered into an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement with a qualifying mailer. In accordance with International Mail Manual (IMM) 297.4, the Postal Service now makes public the following information concerning the Agreement:

a. Term: October 20, 2001, through October 31, 2004.

b. Type of mail: Domestic Products and Services and International Products and Services. Every item must conform to the mailing requirements set forth in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) for Qualifying Mail.

c. Destination country: United States of America and its territories.

d. Service provided by the Postal Service: The Postal Service has agreed to:

1. Furnish at no cost any packaging supplies the Postal Service requires for the use of Qualifying Mail.

2. Provide Mailer with the training necessary to prepare Qualifying Mail.

3. Provide Mailer with access to the Postal Service web-based Application Program Interface (API) system.

e. Minimum volume commitments: The Mailer has agreed to tender a minimum of US$2 million in postage or 1 million pounds of Qualifying Mail annually for the duration of this Agreement.

f. Worksharing: The Mailer has agreed to:

1. Provide the Postal Service with schedules of mailings to include date, weight, volume, location where mail will originate, and office of tender in accordance with instructions the Postal Service provides.

2. Pay postage for Qualifying Mail in accordance with payment methods in the DMM.

3. Use a Postal Service-approved manifest system.

4. Pay for telephone communications associated with the manifest system.

g. Rates: The Mailer has agreed to pay postage for Qualifying Mail in accordance with the applicable rates as published by the Postal Service at the time of mailing.

On November 1, 2001, the Postal Service entered into an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement with a qualifying mailer. In accordance with International Mail Manual (IMM) 297.4, the Postal Service now makes public the following information concerning the Agreement:

a. Term: November 15, 2001, through October 31, 2003.

b. Type of mail: Airmail Parcel Post (APP) and Global Express Mail (EMS). Every item must conform to the mailing requirements set forth in the IMM for Qualifying Mail.

c. Destination countries: Canada and Japan.

d. Service provided by the Postal Service: The Postal Service has agreed to:

1. Furnish Mailer with the equipment and supplies necessary for the use of Qualifying Mail.

2. Provide Mailer with the preparation requirements for Qualifying Mail and any training necessary to prepare Qualifying Mail in conformity with Postal Service requirements.

3. Provide Mailer with technical assistance to prepare the information linkages, electronic data files, and data exchanges.

4. Transport Qualifying Mail to international destinations for delivery by the appropriate authority.

5. Return APP items refused by an addressee and undeliverable APP items to Mailer in accordance with the IMM.

6. Return EMS items refused by an addressee and undeliverable EMS items to Mailer at no charge provided that the return rate is no more than four (4) percent of the total volume.

e. Minimum volume commitments: The Mailer has agreed to meet an annualized minimum combined volume commitment of 25,000 packages mailed via APP and EMS to destination countries.

f. Worksharing: The Mailer has agreed to:

1. Establish the linkages with the Postal Service.

2. Exchange electronic information with the Postal Service according to the instructions the Postal Service provides.

3. Provide the Postal Service with notification of new permit numbers one week in advance of using the new permit numbers.

4. Provide the appropriate Postal Service acceptance sites with a schedule of mailings, to include the intended date of tender, weight, volume, and location where mail will originate in accordance with instructions the Postal Service provides.

g. Rates: The Mailer has agreed to pay postage and return service fees for Qualifying Mail in accordance with Exhibit 1.

Exhibit 1

Rate Charts

Airmail Parcel Post

Japan
Weight Not Over (lbs.) Group 4 Japan
1 $5.94
2 10.19
3 14.45
4 18.70
Canada
Weight Not Over (lbs.) Group 1 Canada
1 $9.99
2 9.99
3 10.58
4 11.31
5 12.04
6 12.68
7 13.32
8 13.97
9 14.61
10 15.25
11 15.90
12 16.54
13 17.18
14 17.82
15 18.47
16 19.11
17 19.75
18 20.40
19 21.04
20 21.68
21 22.32
22 22.97
23 23.61
24 24.25
25 24.90
26 25.54
27 26.18
28 26.82
29 27.47
30 28.11
31 28.75
32 29.40
33 30.04
34 30.68
35 31.32
36 31.97
37 32.61
38 33.25
39 33.90
40 34.54
41 35.18
42 35.82
43 36.47
44 37.11
45 37.75
Canada
Weight Not Over (lbs.) Group 1 Canada
46 $38.40
47 39.04
48 39.68
49 40.32
50 40.97
51 41.61
52 42.25
53 42.90
54 43.54
55 44.18
56 44.82
57 45.47
58 46.11
59 46.75
60 47.39
61 48.04
62 48.68
63 49.32
64 49.97
65 50.61
66 51.25

Rate Charts

Global Express Mail (EMS)

Japan
Weight Not Over (lbs.) Group 4 Japan
0.5 $13.86
1 16.60
2 19.33
3 22.06
4 24.79
5 27.35
6 29.61
7 31.86
8 34.12
9 36.37
10 38.63
11 40.88
12 43.13
13 45.39
14 47.64
15 49.90
16 52.15
17 54.40
18 56.66
19 58.91
20 61.17
21 63.42
22 65.68
23 67.93
24 70.18
25 72.44
26 74.69
27 76.95
28 79.20
29 81.46
30 83.71
31 85.96
32 88.22
33 90.47
Japan
Weight Not Over (lbs.) Group 4 Japan
34 $92.73
35 94.98
36 97.24
37 99.49
38 101.74
39 104.00
40 106.25
41 108.51
42 110.76
43 113.01
44 115.27
45 117.52
46 119.78
47 122.03
48 124.29
49 126.54
50 128.79
51 131.05
52 133.30
53 135.56
54 137.81
55 140.07
56 142.32
57 144.57
58 146.83
59 149.08
60 151.34
61 153.59
62 155.85
63 158.10
64 160.35
65 162.61
66 164.86

Merchandise Return Service Fees

Weight Not Over (lbs.) Canada Japan
1 $7.25 $7.20
2 8.25 9.80
3 9.00 12.40
4 9.75 15.00
5 10.50 17.60
6 11.25 20.20
7 12.00 22.80
8 12.75 25.40
9 13.75 28.00
10 14.25 30.60
11 15.00 33.20
12 15.75 35.80
13 16.50 38.40
14 17.25 41.00
15 18.00 43.70
16 19.00 48.00
17 19.75 50.70
18 20.50 53.50
19 21.25 56.20
20 22.00 58.90
21 22.50 63.90
22 23.25 66.70
23 24.25 69.50
24 25.00 72.30
Weight Not Over (lbs.) Canada Japan
25 $25.75 75.10
26 26.50 77.90
27 27.25 $80.70
28 28.00 83.50
29 29.00 86.30
30 29.75 89.10
31 30.50 91.90
32 31.00 94.70
33 31.75 97.50
34 32.50 100.40
35 33.25 103.20
36 34.25 106.00
37 35.00 108.80
38 35.75 111.60
39 36.50 114.40
40 37.25 117.20
41 38.00 120.00
42 38.75 122.80
43 39.75 125.60
44 40.25 128.40
45 41.00 130.00
46 41.75 131.20
47 42.50 132.40
Weight Not Over (lbs.) Canada Japan
48 $43.25 133.20
49 44.00 $134.60
50 45.00 135.20
51 45.75 136.20
52 46.50 137.40
53 47.25 138.60
54 48.00 141.60
55 48.50 143.40
56 49.25 146.00
57 50.25 148.00
58 51.00 150.00
59 51.75 152.00
60 52.50 154.00
61 53.25 156.00
62 54.00 158.00
63 54.75 160.00
64 55.75 162.00
65 56.50 164.00
66 57.00 168.00
67 - 170.00
68 - 172.00
69 - 174.00
70 - 176.00

On November 8, 2001, the Postal Service entered into an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement with a qualifying mailer. In accordance with International Mail Manual (IMM) 297.4, the Postal Service now makes public the following information concerning the Agreement:

a. Term: November 8, 2001, through November 7, 2006.

b. Type of mail: Domestic Products and Services and International Products and Services. Every item must conform to the mailing requirements set forth in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) and IMM for Qualifying Mail.

c. Destination countries: Originating outside the territory of the United States of America and intended for delivery within the territory of the United States of America.

d. Service provided by the Postal Service: The Postal Service has agreed to:

1. Participate with Mailer in a joint management team to monitor service performance of ICM Mail and other subjects as the team.

2. Participate with Mailer in the development and execution of a joint Commercial Business Plan.

3. Provide Mailer, upon request and at no cost, training for the preparation of ICM Mail at a site within the continental United States.

4. Return undeliverable Qualifying Mail to the Mailer at an address within the continental United States.

e. Minimum volume commitments: The Mailer has agreed to tender US$2 million in postage on an annualized basis derived from Qualifying Mail or 1 million pounds of Qualifying Mail on an annualized basis for each year this Agreement is in effect.

f. Worksharing: The Mailer has agreed to:

1. Provide the Postal Service with schedule of mailings to include the intended date and site of tender, weight, and volume.

2. Participate with the Postal Service in a joint management team to monitor service performance of Qualifying Mail and other subjects as the team.

3. Use a manifest system that meets the approval of the Postal Service Rates and Classification Service Center for all mailings.

4. Pay for telephone communications associated with the manifest system.

g. Rates: The Mailer has agreed to pay postage for Qualifying Mail in accordance with applicable rates as published by the Postal Service at the time of tender.

On November 9, 2001, the Postal Service amended an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement dated October 5, 1999. The Agreement was published in Postal Bulletin 22021 (4-6-00, page 38). The Amendment is to modify the rates and minimum volume commitment and extend the term of the Agreement. In accordance with International Mail Manual (IMM) 297.4, the Postal Service previously announced entering into an International Customized Mail Service Agreement with this qualifying mailer and now makes public the following information regarding this Amendment:

a. Term: November 23, 2001, through December 31, 2001.

b. Type of mail: Global Express Mail (EMS).

c. Destination countries: All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

d. Service provided by the Postal Service: All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

e. Minimum volume commitments: The mailer has agreed to meet a minimum volume commitment of 12,500 pieces annually.

f. Worksharing: All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

g. Rates: The mailer has agreed to pay postage for EMS at thirteen (13) percent off the non- discounted published rates.

On November 15, 2001, the Postal Service entered into an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement with a qualifying mailer. In accordance with International Mail Manual (IMM) 297.4, the Postal Service now makes public the following information concerning the Agreement:

a. Term: November 29, 2001, through November 28, 2003.

b. Type of mail: Global Express Mail (EMS). Every item must conform to the mailing requirements set forth in the IMM for EMS.

c. Destination countries: Worldwide.

d. Service provided by the Postal Service: The Postal Service has agreed to transport EMS to international destinations for delivery by the appropriate authorities.

e. Minimum volume commitments: The Mailer has agreed to meet an annualized minimum of 900 pieces of EMS or $18,000 in annual postage for EMS.

f. Worksharing: The Mailer has agreed to:

1. Comply with the terms and conditions for mailing EMS as set forth in the IMM.

2. Pay postage for EMS by means of a dedicated Express Mail Corporate Account (EMCA) in accordance with the EMCA requirements set forth in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM).

g. Rates: The Mailer has agreed to pay postage at a rate discounted at eight (8) percent off of non- discounted published rates in effect on the date of mailing in accordance with Exhibit 1.

Exhibit 1

Annualized Volume (Piece) or Annualized Postage ($) Discount Applied (%)
600 - 999 or
12,000 - 19,999 		8
1,000 - 2,999 or
20,000 - 59,999 		10
3,000 - or more or
60,000 - or more 		12

(International Mail section continued on page 7.)