Finance

NOTICE

Cease Payments to Wright Express and Its Affiliated Fuel Companies

The Postal Service has reached an agreement with former contractor Wright Express that represents full and final settlement of Wright Express' claim for monies owed by the Postal Service to it and its affiliated companies. That agreement releases the Postal Service from future claims arising from or related to all agreements between Wright Express and the Postal Service that were entered into prior to February 12, 2002.

Effective immediately, Postal Service employees who receive invoices from Wright Express or its affiliated companies should not pay them. Wright Express' affiliated fuel companies include the following:

• Fina Fleet Fueling

• Cenex Credit Card

• Clark Fleet Fueling

• Coastal Fleet Fueling

• Crown Central Petroleum Corporation

• Exxon Mobile Fleet

• Fleet Fueling (Circle K)

• Getty

• Gulf Fleet Fueling

• Hess Fleet Card

• Sheetz Fleet Fueling

• Wright Express

• Wright Express Fleet Fueling

- National Accounting, Finance, 3-21-02

HANDBOOK REVISION

Handbook F-15, Travel and Relocation, and Handbook F-12, Relocation Policy

Effective March 21, 2002, Handbook F-15, Travel and Relocation, and Handbook F-12, Relocation Policy, were revised to reflect changes in the reimbursement rates for travel and relocation.

We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed editions of Handbooks F-15 and F-12 and into the online version of Handbook 15, available on the corporate intranet at http://blue.usps.gov/cpim; click on HBKs.

Handbook F-15, Travel and Relocation

* * * * *

Appendix A, Rates

A-1 Standard Mileage Rates

A-1.1 Mileage Rates

A-1.2 Reimbursement for Postal Supervisors

Postal supervisors (see 5-5.2.1.2) will be reimbursed at the rate of $6.00 per day or 36.5 cents per mile, whichever is greater, when a privately owned vehicle is used.

* * * * *

Handbook F-12, Relocation Policy

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Appendix B, Reimbursement Rates

I. Mileage Rates

A. Standard Mileage Rates

B. Relocation-related advance round-trip and/or en route to new duty station

The allowable rate is 36.5 cents per mile.

* * * * *

- National Accounting, Finance, 3-21-02

REVISED PROCEDURE

Issuance of Postal Payroll Checks

Effective March 29, 2002, the Postal Service will revise its procedure for the issuance of employee payroll checks. Through a competitive bid process, the Postal Service has awarded a new national contract for payroll processing services to Citibank and U.S. Bancorp. This contract will replace the current contract under which three U.S. commercial banks have provided payroll-processing services since 1997. This operational change will enhance cash management procedures, improve internal controls, and reduce Postal Service costs.

Beginning March 29, employees who receive paper checks will notice that their payroll check has been drawn on either Citibank or U.S. Bancorp instead of one of the three banks that currently provide payroll processing services. Employees who have direct deposit will notice no change.

Employees are reminded that they can use the direct deposit program to have their payroll check electronically credited to their account at the financial institution of their choice. To enroll in direct deposit, call PostalEASE at 877-477-3273 and follow the recorded instructions.

- Corporate Treasury, Finance, 3-21-02

International Mail

ICM UPDATE

International Customized Mail

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

On December 31, 2001, the Postal Service amended an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement dated January 1, 2001. The Agreement was published on page 56 of Postal Bulletin 22044 (2-22-01). The Amendment extends the terms of the previous Agreement and removes Global Priority MailŪ service from the Agreement. In accordance with International Mail Manual (IMM) 297.4, the Postal Service previously announced entering into an ICM Service Agreement with this qualifying mailer and now makes public the following information regarding this Amendment:

a. Term: January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2002.

b. Type of mail: Every item must conform to the mailing requirements set forth in the IMM for Qualifying Mail. Global Priority Mail is removed from the Agreement as Qualifying Mail.

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 January 31, 2002, the Postal Service amended an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement, which had become effective April 6, 2001. The Agreement was published on page 49 of Postal Bulletin 22048 (4-19-01). The Amendment extends the term of the Agreement and changes the postage rates for Qualifying Mail. In accordance with International Mail Manual (IMM) 297.4, the Postal Service previously announced entering into an ICM Service Agreement with this qualifying mailer and now makes public the following information regarding this Amendment:

a. Term: April 6, 2001, through January 31, 2003.

b. Type of mail: Global Direct - Canada Lettermail. Every item must conform to the mailing requirements set forth in the IMM for Qualifying Mail.

c. Destination country: Canada.

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: Postage for Qualifying Mail shall be at the rate of $0.35 per piece.

On January 31, 2002, the Postal Service amended an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement dated January 15, 1999. The Agreement was published in Postal Bulletin 21996 (4-22-99, page 72). The Amendment modifies the Agreement to extend the term of the Agreement for 2 weeks. In accordance with International Mail Manual (IMM) 297.4, the Postal Service previously announced entering into an ICM Service Agreement with this qualifying mailer and now makes public the following information regarding this Amendment:

a. Term: January 24, 1999, through February 15, 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 February 6, 2002, 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 hereby makes public the following information concerning the Agreement:

a. Term: February 9, 2001, through February 28, 2004.

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

c. Destination country: Japan.

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

1. Furnish Mailer, or Mailing Agent(s), with the postal equipment and postal supplies required for the use of Qualifying Mail.

2. Provide Mailer, or Mailing Agent(s), with any training necessary to prepare mail shipments in conformity with the requirement for Qualifying Mail.

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

4. Arrange with carriers to transport Qualifying Mail to international destinations for delivery by the appropriate authority.

5. Return Global Express Mail service (EMS) items refused by an addressee and undeliverable items to the Mailer via Express MailŪ at no charge, provided that the return rate is no more than four (4) percent of the total volume.

6. Apply a Postal Service shipping label and Customs documentation to each package intended for delivery in Japan.

7. Send an electronic data file to Japan that will allow the customs officials to review the contents of each shipment before the packages arrive.

8. Accept the mailings at the Mailer's plant.

e. Minimum volume commitments: The Mailer has agreed to tender a minimum of $200,000 in international postage in each calendar year of the Agreement.

f. Worksharing: The Mailer has agreed to:

1. Establish the necessary linkages with the Postal Service so that the Mailer and the Postal Service can exchange data transmissions concerning the Mailer's packages, and the Postal Service can extract information by scanning the Mailer-provided barcode on each package.

2. Exchange electronic information with the Postal Service in accordance with instructions the Postal Service provides.

3. Pay postage either directly or through a mailing agent for all Qualifying Mail by use of a permit imprint subject to the conditions stated in DMM P040, with the exception that DMM P040.1.1 shall not apply, and IMM 152.3.

4. Provide the Postal Service with notification of new permit numbers used for Qualifying Mail, 1 week in advance of using the new permit numbers.

5. Provide the appropriate Postal Service acceptance sites with a schedule of mailings to include the intended date of mailing, weight and volume of the mailings, and location where the mail will originate.

6. Present the mailings to the Postal Service for acceptance at the Mailer's plant.

g. Rates: The Mailer has agreed to pay postage for Global Express Mail service (EMS) rates contained in Exhibit 1.

Exhibit 1

On February 11, 2002, the Postal Service amended an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement dated January 15, 1999. The Agreement was published in Postal Bulletin 21996 (4-22-99, page 72). The Amendment modifies the Agreement to extend the term of the Agreement for 1 week. In accordance with International Mail Manual (IMM) 297.4, the Postal Service previously announced entering into an ICM Service Agreement with this qualifying mailer and now makes public the following information regarding this Amendment:

a. Term: January 24, 1999, through February 22, 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.

- International Business, 3-21-02

IMM AND PUBLICATION 51 REVISIONS

International Mail - Air Parcel Post and Global Express Mail

Effective March 21, 2002, the International Mail Manual (IMM) and Publication 51, International Postal Rates and Fees, are revised to reflect new delivery requirements for Global Express MailTM (EMS) and Global AirmailTM parcel post (air parcels) in 23 European countries, based on the Postal Service's entering into an arrangement with Consignia LLP, formerly the British Post Office. The actual delivery of packages is being made by Consignia's parcel company, General Logistics Systems (GLS), operating as General Parcel.

The 23 countries covered by this agreement are Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Vatican City. Currently, Consignia provides delivery of air parcels to all 23 countries and delivery of EMS items to Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Monaco, Netherlands, and Sweden. Letter-post and economy parcels will continue to be delivered by the postal administration in those countries.

In the IMM, revisions appear in sections 221.4 and 283.23 and in the International Country Listings (ICLs). Depending on the destination country, the new delivery requirements may affect the following sections in the ICLs: Prohibitions, Observations (including the need to provide commercial invoices with shipments), Size Limits (parcel post), Airmail Parcel Post (weight limit), Insurance (parcel post), Return Receipt (availability), Global Express Mail (weight limit), Size Limits (EMS), and Notes. In Publication 51, revisions appear in the sections on size limits for parcel post and EMS shipments and in the Country Listing table. Depending on the destination country, the new delivery requirements may affect the columns in the Country Listing table regarding the parcel post insurance indemnity limit and the maximum weight limits for parcel post and EMS.

We will incorporate these revisions into the printed version of IMM 27 and the next printed version of Publication 51, and also into the online versions of the IMM and Publication 51, both of which can be accessed via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

International Mail Manual (IMM)

* * * * *

2 Conditions for Mailing

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220 Global Express Mail

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221 Description

* * * * *

221.4 Return Receipt Service

Return Receipt service is available for Global Express Mail items only to the following countries at no additional charge (see 340 for preparation procedures):

[Revise the list by removing Germany and Spain to read as follows:]

Argentina
Australia
Bahrain
Belgium
Greece
Guinea-Bissau
Hong Kong
Korea, Republic of (South)
Kuwait
Liechtenstein
Pakistan
Qatar
Singapore
South Africa
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tunisia

* * * * *

280 Parcel Post

* * * * *

283 Weight and Size Limits

* * * * *

283.2 Size Limits

* * * * *

283.23 Exceptional Size Limits

[Revise 283.23 to read as follows:]

The maximum size limit for rectangular-shaped parcels of 42 inches in maximum length and 79 inches in maximum length and girth combined applies to all countries except as follows:

a. Maximum length: 60 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches

Azerbaijan
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Macao

b. Maximum length: 79 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches

Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France (including Monaco)
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
San Marino
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Vatican City

c. Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches

Canada
Hong Kong

* * * * *

Individual Country Listings

* * * * *

Andorra

* * * * *

Country Conditions for Mailing

* * * * *

Prohibitions (130)

[Revise the Prohibitions to read as follows:]

Arms and weapons.
Human remains.
Live plants and animals.

* * * * *

Observations

[Revise the Observations to read as follows:]

1. Air parcel post must have a street address. Delivery cannot be made to post office boxes. A local telephone number for the addressee should be provided.

2. For air parcels, an invoice, in duplicate, is required for all commercial shipments regardless of value and all personal shipments valued at $300 or more. The invoices must be affixed to the outside of the parcel or may be enclosed in PS Form 2976-E with the customs declaration.

* * * * *

(International Mail section continued on page 10.)