SUMMARIES OF RECENT
USPS NEWS RELEASES

Ben Franklin Award for Excellence

Mar. 20

Seymour, MO, Postmaster Wesley Davidson has received the fifth annual Benjamin Franklin Community Newspaper and Postal Service Partnership Award of Excellence. The award was presented by PMG Jack Potter and National Newspaper Association (NNA) President Jeff David. It is presented each year to the USPS employee who best represents the spirit of Benjamin Franklin, one of the country's founders and a prominent postmaster, newspaper publisher and statesman.

Potter congratulated Davidson as the Postal Service employee who had done the most to strengthen the partnership between the Postal Service and community newspapers. "Wes's accomplishments are an example of what we're accomplishing nationally with our Transformation Plan," Potter said.

"I am honored to be selected," said Davidson, a 15-year USPS veteran who began as a rural carrier. "To be recognized for an award for service to the customers by such an outstanding association (NNA) is truly the highlight of my postal career."

Customized MarketMail Filing

Mar. 18

The Postal Service filed a request with the Postal Rate Commission to establish a category of mail that would give direct markets the option of sending odd-shaped, eye- catching advertising pieces through the mail. Called Customized MarketMail (CMM), uniquely shaped mail would enable direct marketers to obtain impact and differentiation in the mailbox, according to USPS Chief Marketing Officer Anita Bizzotto.

"With CMM, mail would become an even more valuable advertising tool than before and, within defined standards, will be limited only by the creativity of the direct marketer," Bizzotto said. CMM represents the ongoing drive by the Postal Service to meet the evolving needs of the direct marketing industry, providing new products and services that give them the ability to mail creative and unusual shapes and designs. With CMM, direct marketers would have the option of mailing nonrectangular mailpieces, which currently are not allowed.

Employees

Thrift Savings Plan Open Season and PostalEASE

The next Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) open season is April 15 through June 30, 2003. This TSP open season ends June 30, 2003, at 5:00 P.M. Central Time (CT). The following information is provided to assist personnel offices in conducting this open season.

The booklet TSPBK08, Summary of the Thrift Savings Plan for Federal Employees, provides a good overview of TSP. Newly eligible career employees receive a copy of TSPBK08 from the national level through a direct mailing. Offices can order additional copies of TSPBK08 from the Material Distribution Center (MDC) as follows:

• Touch Tone Order Entry (TTOE): Call 800-332-0317, and please listen carefully to the message, as the prompts have changed.

Note: You must be registered to use TTOE. To register, call 800-332-0317, extension 2925, and follow the prompts to leave a message (wait 48 hours after registering before placing your first order).

• E-mail: Complete PS Form 7380, MDC Supply Requisition (manually or using F3Fill), and send it as an attachment to the e-mail address MDC Customer Service or to mcustome@email.usps.gov.

• Mail: Mail a completed PS Form 7380 to the MDC at the following address:

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

The relevant ordering information for TSPBK08 is as follows:

PSN: 7530-03-000-9364
Unit of Issue: EA
Bulk Pack Qty: 150
Price: No cost
Edition Date: 05/01

TSP Open Season Dates

The dates of TSP open seasons are October 15 through December 31 and April 15 through June 30 (see TSP bulletin 02-12, dated May 2, 2002). The corresponding election periods are December and June. The "election period" is the earliest period during which a contribution election to start or to change the amount of contributions made during a TSP open season can become effective (see TSP bulletin 01-4, dated February 2, 2001).

Employees may change their fund investment choices (contribution allocations) both during and outside of the TSP open season. To make a fund investment choice, an employee must contact TSP directly, not PostalEASE. If employees do not contact TSP, their existing fund investment choice continues. The earnings statement (paycheck stub) shows the TSP contribution percentage or dollar amount, but the statement does not show the TSP fund investment detail.

Because the TSP has moved the open season election period to December, the increases in the TSP employee contribution limits become effective each December (see TSP bulletin 01-3, dated January 23, 2001). For example, during the October 15 through December 31, 2002, open season, employees covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) became eligible to contribute up to 13 percent of basic pay in 2003 (the maximum was 12 percent for 2002). Eligible FERS employees still receive the Agency Automatic (1 percent) Contribution and the Agency Matching Contribution of up to 4 percent from the Postal Service - these amounts have not changed. Employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and CSRS Offset employees became eligible to contribute up to 8 percent of basic pay in 2003 (the maximum was 7 percent for 2002).

The limits for FERS, CSRS, and CSRS Offset employees will continue to increase by 1 percentage point per year through 2005. Then, in 2006, all participants will be eligible to contribute up to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) annual deferral limit without any percentage limit. The IRS annual deferral limit for 2003 is $12,000. This amount is scheduled to increase by $1,000 each year through 2006 to $15,000. (See table below.)

A newly hired career employee may elect to participate in TSP until the 61st day after the date of hire and in every subsequent open season. The waiting period of one to two open seasons continues to apply to the Agency Automatic (1 percent) Contribution and the Agency Matching Contribution for FERS employees.

Using PostalEASE for Enrollment

Employees who wish to make contribution elections must make them during the TSP open season. Employees must use the PostalEASE telephone system or the PostalEASE employee Web site to make contribution elections and cancellations. PostalEase's toll-free number is 877-4PS-EASE (877-477-3273). For web access through the Postal Service intranet, employees must go to http://blue.usps.gov, click on Employee Self-Service, and then click on PostalEASE. The employee must have his or her USPS personal identification number (PIN) to use PostalEASE (for information on PINs, see "USPS PIN" and "TSP PIN" below).

Note: Personnel and employing offices must not distribute Form TSP-1, Thrift Savings Plan Election Form, to employees for making TSP open season elections. TSP-1 is no longer stocked at the MDC.

Contacting TSP to Make a Fund Investment Election

Employees have three methods to make a fund investment election as follows:

• Web site: Go to the TSP Web site at www.tsp.gov.

• Telephone: Call the TSP ThriftLine at 504-255-8777.

• Mail: Mail Form TSP-50, Investment Allocation, to the TSP service office in New Orleans.

Note: Personnel offices must not accept and cannot process completed Forms TSP-50. Form TSP-50 is not available from the TSP Web site. Form TSP-50 is available from the MDC. The relevant ordering information for Form TSP-50 is as follows:

PSN: 7530-05-000-4305
Unit of Issue: EA
Bulk Pack Qty: 3800
Price: No cost
Edition Date: 08/02

The TSP Web site and ThriftLine are convenient methods for making fund investment elections and elections will take effect more quickly than using form TSP-50. To use the TSP Web site or TSP ThriftLine, participants must use their TSP PIN.

Using Pins to Make TSP Elections

To make TSP elections, use two Pins: USPS PIN and TSP PIN.

USPS PIN

The Postal Service maintains the USPS PIN. Employees must use their USPS PIN to (1) begin a contribution percentage or a dollar amount election, or (2) change their current TSP contribution percentage or dollar amount, or (3) cancel TSP participation via PostalEASE. If employees do not know their USPS PIN, they must contact PostalEASE and do the following steps when prompted: (1) press 1 for PostalEASE; (2) enter their Social Security number; (3) enter their PIN, pause, and then press 2. Employees' USPS PIN will be mailed to their address of record, usually by the next business day.

Note: When an employee requests his or her USPS PIN, the USPS PIN does not change (unlike the TSP PIN). The employee's old USPS PIN remains valid. (The USPS PIN is the same PIN employees use for telephone bidding and computerized bidding.)

TSP PIN

The TSP PIN is maintained by TSP. Employees must use their TSP PIN to make fund investment choices via the TSP Web site or the TSP ThriftLine. If employees are TSP participants and they do not know their TSP PIN, they have three methods for having a new TSP PIN mailed to their address of record:

1. Go to the TSP Web site at www.tsp.gov and select Account Access, or

2. Call the TSP ThriftLine at 504-255-8777, choose 2, enter their Social Security number, and then follow the instructions, or

3. Call the TSP service office at 504-255-6000.

Once TSP has received an employee's TSP PIN request, his or her former TSP PIN is no longer valid.

Direct Mailings to Employees

Career employees receive from the national level a direct mailing of leaflet TSP0403, TSP Open Season, and PostalEASE instructions at their mailing address of record during April.

In addition to receiving TSP0403, newly eligible career employees receive from the national level a direct mailing of TSPBK08, Summary of the Thrift Savings Plan for Federal Employees, as well as a cover letter and PostalEASE instructions at their mailing address of record soon after their accession PS Form 50, Notification of Personnel Action, is processed.

The return address for undeliverable TSP enrollment information for newly eligible employees is the employing office of record. The disposition of returned items is at the discretion of the district office or other administering office. Forwarding a returned enrollment package to an employee offers that employee an opportunity to submit a correct PS Form 1216, Employee's Current Mailing Address, available at the MDC. (Employees with access to web job bidding on the intranet should make address changes via the web. Other employees should return a completed PS Form 1216 to their local personnel office.) Ordering information for PS Form 1216 is as follows:

PSN: 7530-02-000-7354
Quick Pick Number: 118
Unit of Issue: SE
Bulk Pack Qty: 4,000
Price: $0.0171
Edition Date: 06/93

Eligibility

All career employees are eligible to make employee contribution elections this open season (subject to financial hardship withdrawal and cancellation exclusions). FERS employees hired before December 1, 2002, receive Agency Automatic (1 percent) Contributions and Agency Matching Contributions (as appropriate) beginning in June 2003.

All employees who participated in TSP and cancelled their TSP contributions after December 31, 2002, are not eligible to participate in this TSP open season. They must wait for the TSP open season beginning October 15, 2003.

Effective Dates

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

Because PostalEASE provides employees the ability to complete a TSP open season election without contacting the local personnel office and automates the processing of such elections, using PostalEASE should minimize the use of PS Form 6886, Thrift Savings Plan - Request for Retroactive Contributions. PS Form 6886 is used to correct administrative errors for TSP open season elections.

Personnel offices have the authority to determine whether an administrative error has occurred. If an error has delayed a TSP open season election past the appropriate effective date, personnel offices and the employee must complete PS Form 6886 and submit it to the Eagan Accounting Service Center (ASC). The effective dates for employees' elections delayed due to an administrative error must be made retroactive to June 14 or June 28, 2003, depending on the date the employee would have otherwise entered his or her open season election via PostalEASE.

Note: PS Form 6886, published in Postal Bulletin 21665 (3-31-88), must be reproduced locally as needed. Employees who do not have PS Form 6886 should contact their area office to ask for a copy.

Personnel offices also have the authority to determine whether a belated open season election opportunity exists. In such instances, personnel must submit the employee's election to the Eagan ASC for processing, in accordance with administrative instructions provided to personnel offices regarding PostalEASE. Belated open season elections are not retroactive in most circumstances.

Note: Processing deadlines and the closing date of this TSP open season require using only two pay periods as indicated above.

Open Season Materials

In addition to the direct mailing of TSP information to employees, the MDC will automatically distribute residual supplies of the open season leaflet TSP0403, TSP Open Season, to Human Resources at district offices, area offices, processing and distribution centers/facilities (PDC/Fs), bulk mail centers (BMCs), airport mail centers/facilities (AMC/Fs), remote encoding centers, Office of Inspector General, Postal Inspection Service divisions, Headquarters, and selected Headquarters field units.

Non-Open Season Materials

Most of the current TSP publications and forms will be revised for the new TSP record-keeping system. Until notified, all offices must continue to use the current forms. We will publish an article in the Postal Bulletin giving information about new or revised forms when the new record- keeping system is implemented.

Upon receipt of the newly printed forms, the MDC will complete its automatic distribution of all non-open season items to Human Resources at district offices, area offices, PDC/Fs, BMCs, AMC/Fs, remote encoding centers, Office of Inspector General, Postal Inspection Service divisions, Headquarters, and selected Headquarters field units.

Ordering TSP Items

Offices may place orders for new or revised TSP forms and/or publications with the MDC on an as-needed basis. It is not necessary to maintain a large stock of TSPBK08 because this booklet is mailed to each newly hired career employee from the national level. In all cases where the MDC will stock a new or revised TSP item, the MDC will make an initial distribution to Human Resources at installations as noted earlier. Offices may check the TSP Web site for new or revised items. Note: Form TSP-50 is not available from the TSP Web site.

Participant Statements

Each employee with a TSP account will receive a participant statement from the TSP service office in April 2003.

Publicity

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

To assist in publicizing this TSP open season, all offices must post (1) the open season notice provided on page 8 of this Postal Bulletin through June 30, 2003, and (2) the current TSP fact sheet on bulletin boards.

- Compensation,
Employee Resource Management, 4-3-03

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Pedestrian or Driver - Be Careful, Be Cautious, Be Safe

WASHINGTON - Letter carriers have lots of things to think about, but they should always be thinking about safety. Whether the carrier is a pedestrian or a driver, safety comes first. Thousands of pedestrians die each year in motor vehicle accidents in this country. About 80,000 are injured each year.

Pedestrian deaths make up a third of traffic deaths among 3-9 year-olds, and about 20% among people 75 and older. Pedestrians account for about 35% of all motor vehicle fatalities in cities with populations over 1 million, so urban drivers (and pedestrians) need to be especially watchful. Pedestrian activity is highest in urban areas, where traffic is denser and recreation space is limited.

Children under the age of 16 are most likely to be struck by motor vehicles. Pedestrians age 10-15 have the highest nonfatal injury rate. And elderly pedestrians - hit less frequently than children - are more likely to die after being struck.

While intersections can be dangerous, the majority of pedestrian crashes occur at other locations, where vehicle speeds are higher and drivers are less likely to expect they'll need to stop.

Letter carriers when they are pedestrians need to exercise caution and watch for traffic at the appropriate locations, intersections, and crosswalks. Letter carriers when they are drivers need to expect the unexpected and watch for pedestrians, especially in areas with high recreational activity and the presence of children.

Weather can have an impact, too. Inclement weather can cause people to rush to get out of the elements, and make road conditions worse. On the other hand, good weather can improve visibility and road conditions, but also increase outdoor activity and pedestrian traffic.

Pedestrian safety is up to pedestrians and drivers alike. Be careful out there.

- Communication Integration,
Public Affairs and Communications, 4-3-03

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 April 5, 2003 (pay period 9-03), the equipment maintenance allowance (EMA) will increase from 39.5 cents per mile to 40.5 cents per mile.

The EMA is 40.5 cents per mile, or a minimum of $16.20 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 40.5 cents per mile or $4.65 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 7-8 supersedes all previously published EMA schedules for employees receiving EMA.

- Collective Bargaining and Arbitration,Labor Relations, 4-3-03

International Mail

ICM UPDATES

International Customized Mail

We have combined ICM updates into one Postal Bulletin article to save space and paper. 13 ICM updates appear here.

On February 26, 2003, 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: March 12, 2003, through March 11, 2006.

b. Type of mail: Global Express MailTM (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 commitment of 600 pieces of 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 nondiscounted published rates in effect on the date of mailing in accordance with Exhibit 1.

Exhibit 1

On January 14, 2003, the Postal Service amended an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement dated May 30, 2002. The Agreement was published on page 16 of Postal Bulletin 22079 (6-27-02). The Amendment modifies the Agreement to add Global Express MailTM (EMS) and Global Direct - Canada Admail as Qualifying Mail. 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: All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

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

c. Destination countries: Worldwide.

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: The Mailer has agreed to:

1. Tender Global Direct - Canada Admail to the appropriate deposit locations as specified in IMM 612.

2. Pay postage, either directly or through a mailing agent, for Global Express MailTM (EMS) using a dedicated Express Mail Corporate Account.

3. Comply with the preparation requirements set forth in IMM 220 for EMS.

4. Comply wit the preparation requirements which Canada Post stipulates or the preparation requirements set forth in IMM 612 for Global Direct - Canada Admail. Any penalty which Canada Post assesses for mail not prepared in accordance with its preparation requirements will be passed on to the Mailer.

All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

g. Rates:

1. The Mailer has agreed to pay postage at a rate of sixteen (16.0%) percent discount off of non- discounted published rates in effect on the date of mailing for EMS.

2. The Mailer has agreed to pay postage for Global Direct Canada - Admail according to the rates in Exhibit 2.

3. Guarantee, Exhibit 1, is modified to read as follows:

Exhibit 1

*Actual revenue received after discount is applied.

Exhibit 2

Global Direct - Canada Admail Rates

All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

On February 26, 2003, 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: March 12, 2003, through March 11, 2004.

b. Type of mail: Global Express MailTM (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 commitment of 3,000 pieces of 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 twelve (12) percent off nondiscounted published rates in effect on the date of mailing in accordance with Exhibit 1.

Exhibit 1

On February 28, 2003, the Postal Service amended an International Customized Mail Service Agreement dated November 1, 2002. The Agreement was published in Postal Bulletin 22099 (11-28-02, page 53). The Amendment modifies the Agreement to add Seattle, WA, and Buffalo, NY, as additional drop ship sites for IPA and ISAL Qualifying Mail intended for delivery in Canada and extends the IPA and ISAL drop ship rates to those locations. 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: All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

b. Type of mail: International Priority AirmailTM (IPA), International Surface Air LiftTM (ISAL), Global Express MailTM (EMS), M-Bags, Global Bulk Economy (GBE) Service, and Global Direct Service. Every item must conform to the mailing requirements set forth in the IMM for Qualifying Mail.

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

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

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

f. Worksharing: The Mailer has agreed to:

1. Dropship at least ninety-nine (99) percent of IPA Qualifying Mail in drop shipments to the appropriate locations specified in IMM 292.153, the Seattle AMC, and the Buffalo P&DC. The Seattle, WA, and Buffalo, NY, locations are to be used only for mailings intended for delivery in Canada.

2. Dropship at least ninety-nine (99) percent of ISAL Qualifying Mail in drop shipments to the appropriate locations specified in IMM 293.32, the Seattle AMC, and the Buffalo, P&DC. The Seattle, WA, and the Buffalo, NY, locations are to be used only for mailings intended for delivery in Canada.

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

On January 17, 2003, the U.S. Postal Service amended an International Customized Mail Service Agreement dated June 18, 2001. The Agreement was published on page 68 of Postal Bulletin 22054 (7-12-01). The Amendment modifies the Agreement to add rates for Global Express MailTM (EMS) and Airmail Parcel Post with USPS labeling worldwide and USPS manifesting. This Amendment also adds a fee of $0.50 to the existing rates to Japan and Canada for Global Express MailTM (EMS) and Airmail Parcel Post for USPS manifesting. 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 hereby makes public the following information regarding this Amendment:

a. Term: All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

b. Type of Mail: Global Express MailTM (EMS). All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

c. Destination Countries: Worldwide.

d. Service Provided by the U. S. Postal Service: The Postal Service has agreed to:

1. Send an electronic data file for EMS to Japan and Singapore and to send an electronic data file for Airmail Parcel Post to Singapore that will allow Customs officials to review the contents of each shipment before the packages arrive.

2. Weigh each piece of mail, determine the appropriate postage for each piece of mail, and generate a postage statement for the entire shipment.

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: The Mailer has agreed to:

1. Pay postage for Qualifying Mail according to the rate charts in Exhibit 1.

All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

Exhibit 1

Global Express Mail with USPS Labeling and USPS Manifesting

Exhibit 1

Global Express Mail with USPS Labeling, USPS Manifesting, and Customs Pre-Advice

Exhibit 1

Airmail Parcel Post with USPS Labeling and USPS Manifesting

Exhibit 1

Airmail Parcel Post with USPS Labeling, USPS Manifesting, and Customs Pre-Advice

On February 28, 2003, 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: March 1, 2003, through March 31, 2004.

b. Type of mail: Global Express MailTM (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 the Mailer, or its agent(s), with the postal equipment and postal supplies required for the use of Qualifying Mail.

2. Provide the Mailer the preparation requirements and any necessary training to prepare mail shipments in conformity with the requirements of Qualifying Mail.

3. Perform on demand and scheduled pickup service at the request of the Mailer at the published rate for this service in accordance with IMM 220.

4. Arrange with carriers to transport Qualifying Mail to Japan for delivery by the proper authority.

5. Provide the Mailer with a system to include a computer workstation, in-line scale, manifesting software, and printers that produce manifests, EMS labels, customs documents, and customized reports.

6. Provide maintenance and upkeep for the manifesting equipment.

7. Provide the Mailer with a Corporate Account Mailing Statement at the end of each postal accounting period showing a beginning balance, deposits, a listing of each shipment mailed including the date, label numbers, office of mailing, number of shipments, postage and fees, and the ending balance in the account.

e. Minimum volume commitment: The Mailer has agreed to meet an annualized minimum volume commitment of at least 1,000 packages of Qualifying Mail.

f. Worksharing: The Mailer has agreed to:

1. Pay postage for EMS to Japan in accordance with payment methods as referenced in IMM 220 and DMM P500 except as those requirements conflict with the terms of this Agreement.

2. Use a dedicated EMCA for payment of all Qualifying Mail shipments under this Agreement.

3. Use the EMCA number on all EMS shipments in lieu of affixing postage.

g. Rates: The Mailer has agreed to pay postage for EMS to Japan at a discount of ten (10) percent off the published rate.

Exhibit 1