Employees (Continued)

REVISED HANDBOOK EL-307 AND PUBLICATION 317; NEW POSTER 315 AND PUBLICATION 316

Reasonable Accommodation Materials

The Office of Selection, Evaluation, and Recognition, Employee Resource Management, announces the publication of revised and new reasonable accommodation materials.

Revised Materials:

• Handbook EL-307, Reasonable Accommodation, An Interactive Process (September 2003), provides revisions to procedures and guidance on processing requests for reasonable accommodation under the Rehabilitation Act. The handbook also incorporates new tools, including the Reasonable Accommodation Decision Guide, which replaces the checklists formerly found in the handbook. Previous editions of the handbook are now obsolete.

• Publication 317, Manager's Guide to Reasonable Accommodation (September 2003), provides revisions to processes to assist managers and supervisors in making reasonable accommodation decisions. Previous versions of Publication 317 are obsolete. Publication 318, Reasonable Accommodation Interactive Process, is also obsolete.

New Materials:

• Poster 315, The Reasonable Accommodation Process (September 2003), also is available.

• Publication 316, Reasonable Accommodation in the U.S. Postal Service: A Guide for Employees and Applicants (September 2003), is now available.

These new materials address the policy of the Postal ServiceTM on reasonable accommodation and the personnel whom applicants and employees should initially contact to request a reasonable accommodation.

A package containing one of each of the four reasonable accommodation materials is being distributed to Headquarters and Headquarters field units, areas, districts, P&DCs, BMCs, AMFs, AMCs, RECs, and Post OfficesTM CAG A-G.

The materials are available on the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site; go to http://blue.usps.gov; click on More References, then PUBs, Handbooks, or Posters. Handbook EL-307, Poster 315, and Publication 316 are also available on the Internet; go to www.usps.com; click on About USPS & News, then Forms & Publications, then Browse All Periodicals & Publications, and then Publications, Handbooks, or Posters (either PDF Format or Text Format).

You can order any of these materials from the Material Distribution Center (MDC) as follows:

• Touch Tone Order Entry (TTOE): Call 800-332-0317, option 2.

Note: You must be registered to use TTOE. To register, call 800-332-0317, option 1, 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 FormFlow), and send it as an attachment to the e-mail address MDC, Customer Service or to mcustome@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

Use the following information to order Handbook EL-307:

PSIN: HBK EL-307
PSN: 7610-01-000-9071
Unit of Measure: EA
Minimum Order Quantity: 1
Bulk Pack Quantity: 66
Quick Pick Number: N/A
Price: $1.1734
Edition Date: 09/03

Use the following information to order Poster 315:

PSIN: POS315
PSN: 7690-07-000-7706
Unit of Measure: EA
Minimum Order Quantity: N/A
Bulk Pack Quantity: 1,000
Quick Pick Number: N/A
Price: $0.30
Edition Date: 09/03

Use the following information to order Publication 316:

PSIN: PUB316
PSN: 7690-07-000-7707
Unit of Measure: EA
Minimum Order Quantity: N/A
Bulk Pack Quantity: 1,000
Quick Pick Number: N/A
Price: $0.30
Edition Date: 09/03

Use the following information to order Publication 317:

PSIN: PUB317
PSN: 7610-05-000-4023
Unit of Measure: EA
Minimum Order Quantity: N/A
Bulk Pack Quantity: 2,100
Quick Pick Number: N/A
Price: $0.0957
Edition Date: 09/03

- Selection, Evaluation, and Recognition,
Employee Resource Management, 11-13-03

2003-2004 U.S. Postal Service Safe Driver Award Program

The U.S. Postal Service® has renewed its agreement for the Safe Driver Award Program for September 2003 through September 2004. We encourage you to take advantage of this outstanding opportunity.

The National Safety Council and Postal ServiceTM Headquarters have established this agreement to recognize safe driving performance and to prevent unintentional injury and illness in the Postal Service. The agreement extends the benefits of the Safe Driver Award Program to all Postal Service facilities with driving employees. Eligible Postal Service employee participants are employees (1) who have a normal daily assignment that involves driving a motor vehicle for official office business and (2) who have not had their driving privilege revoked or suspended.

The Postal Service Safe Driver Award Program allows postmasters to order program components at no cost to their facility. The National Safety Council bills all costs for the components covered under the agreement to Postal Service Headquarters. To order program components and for more information about the Postal Service Safe Driver Award Program, postmasters should contact the National Safety Council by telephone at 800-SAFE-643, by fax at 630-285-0797, or by e-mail at motprog@nsc.org.

Under the current contract, postmasters can order the following program components:

• 1-year through to 45-year safe driver lapel pins (wallet cards come with orders for lapel pins).

• Million-mile plaques and pins (million-mile brass wallet cards come with orders for the plaques and pins).

• Postal Service Safe Driver Rule Book (no restriction on quantity for orders).

The following program components are not covered under the current contract, but postmasters can purchase them separately and pay for them locally:

• Expert driver certificates.

• 1-year through 45-year safe driver patches.

• 2- and 3-million mile plaques.

• 1-year through 45-year personalized safe worker pins.

- Safety Performance Management,
Employee Resource Management, 11-13-03

Flexible Spending Accounts Open Season

The 2003 open season for the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) program for career employees is scheduled for November 10 through December 21, 2003, 5:00 P.M. Central Time (CT). Enrollments made during this open season are effective January 1, 2004, for the 2004 plan year (January 1 through December 31, 2004).

FSAs allow employees 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 ServiceTM.

The booklet FSA BK1, Flexible Spending Accounts (November 2003), provides a good overview of FSAs. The following information should assist local personnel offices in conducting this open season.

Use PostalEASE to Enroll

To enroll in FSA during open season, employees have two options: (1) the PostalEASE telephone system or (2) the PostalEASE employee Web site.

To enroll by telephone: Call the PostalEASE toll-free number at 877-4PS-EASE (877-477-3273).

To enroll via the Intranet: Go to http://blue.usps.gov, click on Employee Self-Service, and then on PostalEASE. Or use an Employee Self-Service kiosk (available in some facilities).

Publicity

To publicize FSA open season, all offices must post the open season notice provided on page 8 on bulletin boards through December 21, 2003.

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, postcards, an enrollment kit with an FSA brochure, a PostalEASE FSA worksheet, and a withdrawal request form.

Undeliverable mailed kits are returned to the employing office of record. When an office receives a returned kit, the office should encourage the employee to update his or her address. An employee with access to Employee Change of Address on the Intranet (from the blue page) or to an Employee Self-Service kiosk (available in some facilities) should use these entry methods. Any other employee should submit an updated PS Form 1216, Employee's Current Mailing Address. PS Form 1216 may be ordered from the Material Distribution Center (MDC) as follows:

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

Note: You must be registered to use TTOE. To register, call 800-332-0317, option 1, 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 FormFlow), and send it as an attachment to the e-mail address MDC, Customer Service or to mcustomer@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 66624-0702

The relevant ordering information for PS Form 1216, Employee's Current Mailing Address, is as follows:

PSIN: PS 1216
PSN: 7530-02-000-7354
Unit of Measure: SE
Quick Pick #: 118
Bulk Pack Quantity: 4,000
Minimum Order Quantity: 500
Price: $0.0171
Edition Date: 06/93

Eligibility

Participation in the FSA program is limited to career employees. 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) 26-2003 (December 12, 2003). 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 12, 2003, is not eligible to participate in the FSA program. However, an employee who is returning from uniformed military service may enroll, even if he or she has exceeded the eight pay periods of LWOP.

Election Opportunities

Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA

Eligible career employees may elect to participate in one, or both, of two FSAs - the Health Care FSA and the Dependent Care FSA. Each FSA covers eligible expenses for services that are received during the employee's period of participation during 2004 plan year (for most employees this will be January 1 through December 31, 2004). Employees who elect to participate must enroll via PostalEASE no later than 5:00 P.M. CT on December 21, 2003. The brochure FSA BK1, Flexible Spending Accounts, that employees receive in the mail describes eligible and ineligible expenses and guidelines for estimating 2004 expenses.

FSA Open Season Contribution Levels

For the 2004 plan year, eligible career bargaining unit employees may now elect to contribute up to $5,000 to the Health Care FSA. Career nonbargaining unit employees may elect to contribute up to $5,000 to the Health Care FSA. All eligible career employees may also elect to contribute up to $5,000 to the Dependent Care FSA. Contributions are withheld in equal amounts through payroll deductions covering 27 pay periods (PP 01-2004 through PP 27-2004). The minimum annual contribution employees may make to either FSA is $135 ($5 per pay period).

Election Changes and Enrollment Processing

Participants may neither cancel enrollments nor change contribution levels during the plan year except following qualified life status changes, as explained in the brochure FSA BK1, Flexible Spending Accounts.

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:

- A postcard with instructions on how to obtain a USPS Personal Identification Number (PIN) (mailed in early November).

- A postcard with examples of typical FSA cost savings (mailed in late November).

- A postcard with a reminder of the closing date (mailed in mid-December).

• FSA LF1, Flexible Spending Accounts Overview and Tax Savings Estimator (October 2003). This leaflet provides an overview of the advantages of the FSA program.

• An enrollment kit that includes the following items:

- FSA BK1, Flexible Spending Accounts (November 2003), a brochure explaining plan policies and provisions.

- The FSA PostalEASE worksheet.

- FSA1, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Withdrawal Request (November 2003). This form is used to request to withdraw funds from an FSA for payment of eligible expenses for services received during the period of participation.

Extra Supplies of Materials

By the beginning of the open season, HQ Compensation coordinates the distribution of extra supplies of the leaflet, enrollment kit, and 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.

Additional copies of the following FSA items will be available from the MDC but not until the distribution of extra supplies has been completed. The relevant ordering information follows.

Flexible Spending Accounts Overview and Tax Savings Estimator

PSIN: FSA LF1
PSN: 7610-04-000-5138
Unit of Measure: EA
Quick Pick #: NA
Bulk Pack Quantity: 1,800
Minimum Order Quantity: 2,100
Price: No cost
Edition Date: 10/03

Flexible Spending Accounts

PSIN: FSA BK1
PSN: 7530-02-000-9910
Unit of Measure: EA
Quick Pick #: NA
Bulk Pack Quantity: 250
Minimum Order Quntity: 2
Price: No cost
Edition Date: 11/03

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Withdrawal Request

PSIN: FSA1
PSN: 7530-02-000-9911
Unit of Measure: EA
Quick Pick #: NA
Bulk Pack Quantity: 1,800
Minimum Order Quantity: 100
Price: No cost
Edition Date: 11/03

Responsibilities of Personnel Offices

Personnel offices are responsible for the following tasks:

• Respond to employee inquiries about eligibility.

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

Offices are reminded of the following points:

• 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/.

• Employees should include health care expenses for dependents in the Health Care FSA contribution amount and not in the Dependent Care FSA.

• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) annual limits on the Dependent Care FSA contribution are $5,000 for a family and $2,500 for a married employee filing a separate return. These limits are explained fully in the FSA BK1, Flexible Spending Accounts.

• Offices do not process Form FSA1, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Withdrawal Request. Participants are responsible for mailing Form FSA1 directly to the FSA Customer Service Center via the El Paso, Texas, address given on Form FSA1.

• Offices must not provide tax advice. Offices must refer employees with tax questions to their tax advisors or to the IRS toll-free information line at 800-TAX-1040 (800-829-1040). In addition, a section of the FSA BK1, Flexible Spending Accounts, presents certain tax information related to FSAs.

• Refer employees with questions about the FSA program to the FSA toll-free hotline given below.

FSA Customer Service Center Toll-Free Hotline

For inquiries about FSAs, employees should call the FSA Customer Service Center's toll-free hotline at 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 at 866-206-7810 and 866-649-4869. The Center encourages employees who want to use the TDD line to have a colleague place an advance call to the toll-free hotline.

- Compensation,
Employee Resource Management, 11-13-03

Rochester P&DC Safety Committee Receives OSHA's Highest Rating - STAR

"Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are." This is the beginning of a song that we can all remember as a child. Well, the Rochester P&DC has pursued the imagination of a star, and this week they discovered what it is.

The Rochester P&DC Safety Committee has been searching and working for the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) STAR rating for 3 years. Last week the OSHA VPP audit team visited the Rochester facility to perform an audit of the facility's Safety and Health Program. After the week-long audit, OSHA declared that the Rochester P&DC Safety Committee's efforts should be honored with the highest rating OSHA has to offer, STAR!

This was the culmination of 3 years of dedicated teamwork on behalf of the Labor and Management Committee. The Safety Committee in Rochester is made up of 80% craft employees and 20% labor employees. Their top-notch safety program reduced accidents by 63% over 3 years. The Safety Committee is chaired by Mailhander AVP Greg Hubbard and APWU Steward Peggy Pearson. The VPP coordinator is APWU Mary Hutteman. They were empowered by Plant Manager Rhonda Spates-Benton and her management team.

The synergism created by an employee-owned safety program facilitated empowerment and safety excellence. Not only was this team ranked above most programs in the nation, the OSHA auditors also noted that two of their programs should be classified as "Best Practices." The safety programs given this classification were the Rochester P&DC's Lockout/Tagout and the Powered Industrial Truck. This classification indicates that, from all the audits that OSHA has performed both in the private sector and in the government sector in the industrial environment, these two programs are the very best that they have seen. These Best Practices will be used by OSHA as a model for other companies.

The bottom line is that the Rochester P&DC Safety Committee now knows what the "STAR" is. It is the one that shines the brightest for Rochester because it saves the postal family's lives.

- Safety Performance Management,
Employee Resource Management, 11-13-03

Information Technology

HANDBOOK REVISION

Handbook AS-508, Section 508

We have revised Handbook AS-508, Section 508, chapters 4-9, to add Internet address links to related Access Board requirements that Postal ServiceTM organizations must follow when developing and presenting electronic and information technology information that Postal Service employees and customers will access.

We will incorporate these revisions into the online version of the handbook available on the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site at http://blue.usps.gov/cpim; click on HBKs.

Handbook AS-508, Section 508

* * * * *

4 Telecommunications

[Revise text as follows:]

The Access Board Standards for telecommunications products are available online at www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=12# Telecommuninications. (You may also reach them from the Section 508 page (www.section508.gov) by clicking on 508 Law, then on Section 508 Standards, and finally on 1194.23 Telecommunications products.)

* * * * *

5 Video and Multimedia

[Revise text as follows:]

The Access Board Standards for video and multimedia applications are available online at www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=12#Video. (You may also reach them from the Section 508 page (www.section508.gov) by clicking on 508 Law, then on Section 508 Standards, and finally on 1194.24 Video and multimedia products.)

* * * * *

6 Software Applications and Operating Systems

[Revise text as follows:]

The Access Board Standards for software applications and operating systems are available online at www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID= 12# Software. (You may also reach them from the Section 508 page (www.section508.gov) by clicking on 508 Law, then on Section 508 Standards, and finally on 1194.21 Software applications and operating systems.)

* * * * *

[Revise title and text as follows:]

7 Desktop and Portable Computers

The Access Board Standards for desktop and portable computers are available online at www.section508.gov/ index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=12#Desktop. (You may also reach them from the Section 508 page (www.section508.gov) by clicking on 508 Law, then on Section 508 Standards, and finally on 1194.26 Desktop and portable computers.)

* * * * *

8 Self Contained, Closed Products

[Revise text as follows:]

The Access Board Standards for self contained and closed products are available online at www.section508.gov/ index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=12#Self. (You may also reach them from the Section 508 page (www.section508.gov) by clicking on 508 Law, then on Section 508 Standards, and finally on 1194.25 Self contained, closed products.)

* * * * *

9 Support

[Revise text as follows:]

The Access Board Standards for information, documentation, and support are available online at www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID= 12#Information. (You may also reach them from the Section 508 page (www.section508.gov) by clicking on 508 Law, then on Section 508 Standards, and finally on 1194.41 Information, documentation, and support.)

* * * * *

- Enterprise Architecture and Standards,
Information Technology, 11-13-03

NEW MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTION

Field Applications - Development and Retention

MI AS-850-2003-12, Field Applications: Development and Retention, is available on the Postal ServiceTM PolicyNet Web site; go to http://blue.usps.gov; click on More References, then MIs.

This MI establishes the policy and procedures for building a field application or keeping an existing one when it is determined to be in the best interest of the Postal Service. It applies to all individuals and organizations that develop or support applications that operate within the Postal Service production computing environment.

All new applications must be designed to operate within the Advanced Computing Environment (ACE) infrastructure following the standards for new development outlined in this MI.

Existing field applications must be assessed by field managers to determine whether they should be retired or retained using the criteria outlined in this MI.

- Business Solutions Services,
Information Technology, 11-13-03

NEW MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTION

Securing Wireless Local Area Networks

Management Instruction AS-860-2003-11, Securing Wireless Local Area Networks, is now available on the Postal ServiceTM PolicyNet Web site; go to http://blue.usps.gov; click on More References, then MIs.

This MI establishes policy and requirements regarding the use of 802.11x wireless local area network technology within the Postal Service.

It requires, among other things, that all installations of access points, wireless cards, or any wireless technology be approved in advance by the Network Connectivity Review Board (NCRB) because of the risks such installations can introduce to the Postal Service intranet, networks, and all connected information resources.

- Corporate Information Security,
Information Technology, 11-13-03

Policy on BlackBerry and Wireless PDA Devices

Wireless data communication in the Postal ServiceTM takes place over handheld devices that provide a secure connection from the Postal Service network to wireless network and support services. The current product that supports wireless data transfer is the RIM BlackBerry.

Prospective BlackBerry users must have an ACE/Exchange (Outlook) account before Information Technology (IT) can configure a connection. IT will not order hardware or service for users who do not have an active Outlook account.

Coordinate and initiate account setup, transfer, inventory tracking, and problem resolution through the IT Help Desk ticket process.

Eligibility Criteria

• USPS officers and PCES executives (fully funded). Postal Service officers and PCES executives receive BlackBerry data messaging technology provided and funded by IT.

Note: Voice service and device upgrades are funded locally.

• Continuity of operations (COOP) members (shared funding). Designated COOP members receive BlackBerry data messaging technology.

IT will fund the initial purchase and one-time setup charge of BlackBerrys for EAS personnel identified by title and grade in accordance with guidelines established by the COOP program manager. The area, district, or local organization will fund recurring service costs. IT will requisition and order the hardware.

Noncritical EAS/other positions (locally funded). EAS and other positions receive BlackBerry data messaging technology only if their local PCES manager approves and funds it.

Contract employees (locally funded). Contract employees receive BlackBerry data messaging technology only if their local PCES manager and the Office of the Chief Technology Officer approve it and local funds pay for it.

• FLSA non-exempt and bargaining unit employees (ineligible). FLSA non-exempt and bargaining unit employees do not receive remote communication devices.

Funding

• Fully funded. IT will fund the initial purchase, one- time setup charge, and monthly recurring charges for all BlackBerry data messaging technology deployed to all executive officers and PCES managers.

• Shared funding. IT will fund the one-time purchase and setup charge of BlackBerrys for EAS personnel identified by the COOP program manager. The area, district, or local organization will requisition via the eBuy off-catalog process and fund the monthly re- curring wireless service cost. The eBuy requisition must list Craig Woods and Lydia Martin as ad-hoc approvers.

• Locally funded. The area, district, or local organization and the Office of the Chief Technology Officer will approve the use and distribution of BlackBerry messaging technology for locally designated EAS and other personnel. Local funds will pay for all associated costs. The eBuy requisition must list Craig Woods and Lydia Martin as ad-hoc approvers.

Ordering

Follow the instructions provided in the Order Processes document on the Intranet at http://cste/blackberry/info.htm. The vendor will ship devices to the address of the requester or to the local IT personnel helping the requester set up the device. When you receive the device, contact the IT Help Desk to initiate a ticket to have the device installed and activated and alert your local IT staff.

To open a Help Desk ticket, contact the IT Help Desk at the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses listed below:

• HQ and HQ Remote employees
Telephone: 202-268-5588
800-268-5588

E-mail: ## IT Help Desk
ithelp@usps.gov

• Field employees
Telephone: Call 800-USPS-HEL(P) (800-877-7435) and say "BlackBerry" at the voice response level.

Available Devices and Services

Following is a list of the available devices and the standard features and services that come with each device. All other features, enhanced services, or accessories are considered optional and must be funded by the requesting organization.

• RIM BlackBerry 957

- Device, docking station, and belt carrying case.

- 2.5.3 Microsoft Exchange client access license and software.

- Cingular-provided service and coverage areas.

- Corporate E-mail Plus (unlimited).

- Basic paging.

- Web browsing service.

- METAmessage attachment processing.

• RIM BlackBerry 6710

- Device, docking station, ear bud, and travel charger.

- 3.6 MS Exchange client access license and software.

- AT&T-provided service and coverage areas.

- Data only with SMS: $37.49 Monthly Service ($49.99 monthly service fee, less the Postal Service's 25 percent discount).

- Data, SMS, and voice: $33.74 Monthly Service ($44.99 monthly service fee, less the Postal Service's 25 percent discount).

- Roaming data charges (U.S. Domestic and Canada): $13.00 per megabyte, priced per kilobyte ($0.01270 per kilobyte).

- International roaming charges: $20.00 per megabyte, priced per kilobyte ($0.01953 per kilobyte).

- Voice service can be coupled with data on the RIM BlackBerry 6710 where service is locally available. This additional feature is funded in accordance with the area, district, or local organization's policies and procedures. See the table below for available calling plans, information on device capabilities, and local service availability.

Note: To have this voice service activated, you will need to turn in your Postal Service-distributed mobile phone.

Transfer From Person to Person

Fully Funded Devices

Return all fully funded devices to the BlackBerry and PDA National Program Office for reissue or inventory surplus as appropriate.

Devices With Shared Funding

Devices with shared funding are assigned to critical positions and stay with that position. If the position is cancelled, return the device to the BlackBerry and PDA National Program Office for reissue or inventory surplus as appropriate.

Locally Funded Devices

The local PCES manager reassigns locally funded devices to eligible personnel.

Note: Coordinate and initiate account setup, transfer, maintenance, and inventory tracking through the Help Desk ticket process.

Return all broken, excessed, unused, or upgraded devices to the BlackBerry and PDA National Program Office at the following address:

TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
BLACKBERRY AND PDA NATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE
475 L'ENFANT PLAZA SW RM 2P707
WASHINGTON DC 20260-1500

Upgrade Device or Service

• Officers: Local funds pay upgrade cost and telephone charges.

• PCES: Local funds pay upgrade cost and telephone charges.

• EAS/Other: Local PCES manager approves and funds upgrade difference and phone charges.

• Contract employees: The local PCES manager and the Office of the Chief Technology Officer must approve all upgrades; all costs of upgrade and telephone charges are paid with local funds.

Note: Account setup, transfer, and inventory tracking is coordinated and initiated via the Help Desk ticket process.

When you upgrade your BlackBerry device, the old device must be returned to the BlackBerry and PDA National Program Office at the following address:

TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
BLACKBERRY AND PDA NATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE
475 L'ENFANT PLAZA SW RM 2P707
WASHINGTON DC 20260-1500

If you wish to transfer the old device to another person, you must coordinate it with the BlackBerry and PDA National Program Office.

Damaged, Lost, or Stolen Device

If your BlackBerry device is damaged, initiate repair or replacement service via the IT Help Desk ticket process.

Return all damaged devices to the BlackBerry and PDA National Program Office at the following address:

TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
BLACKBERRY AND PDA NATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE
475 L'ENFANT PLAZA SW RM 2P707
WASHINGTON DC 20260-1500

If your BlackBerry device is lost or stolen, contact the IT Help Desk immediately for assistance in disabling the device. After the device is disabled, if you determine that it is not recoverable, you may obtain a replacement device. You can initiate this process by contacting the IT Help Desk at the following telephone numbers and e-mail addresses:

• HQ and HQ Remote employees
Telephone: 202-268-5588
800-268-5588

E-mail: ## IT Help Desk
ithelp@usps.gov

• Field employees
Telephone: Call 800-USPS-HEL(P) (800-877-7435) and say "BlackBerry" at the voice response level.

Support

All service, support, and maintenance is initiated by opening an IT Help Desk ticket. You can initiate this process by contacting the Help Desk at the following telephone numbers and e-mail addresses:

• HQ and HQ Remote employees
Telephone: 202-268-5588
800-268-5588

E-mail: ## IT Help Desk
ithelp@usps.gov

• Field employees
Telephone: Call 800-USPS-HEL(P) (800-877-7435) and say "BlackBerry" at the voice response level.

Training

Each area, district, or local organization is responsible for acquiring training for its end users. Obtain more information by visiting www.ctbsltd.com.

Detailed Technical Support

Detailed technical support is supplied to IT managers and staff under separate cover.

- Technology Services,
Information Technology, 11-13-03

Blocking Problematic Web Sites

Today, the Postal ServiceTM is leveraging the power of the Internet to extend its services worldwide. But new technologies pose new and challenging security risks. One area of risk lies in the personal use of the Internet by our employees, which could result in security risks, the unnecessary diversion of bandwidth for frivolous purposes, or more serious events, including the following:

• Bombardment of our network with tons of unsolicited, commercial, Web-embedded links and e-mails because a user's e-mail address is added to a spam list.

• Assaults on our network that occur when a user visits a Web site that tries to load spyware (applications bundled in freeware to secretly monitor user Internet activity and collect sensitive information) and cookies (files that Web servers send to Web browsers that are used to record personal data).

• Contamination of our network and data by virus infections and worm attacks associated with unsolicited e-mails.

What the Postal Service Is Doing

Cleaning up after such events costs time and money and can disrupt daily business operations. To avoid such consequences, the Postal Service is putting in place a smart filter to block access to problematic Web sites.

How It Works

Simply put, the filter will prevent you from getting there from here. Postal Service employees who try to visit a site known to be problematic will get a message letting them know that it is one of the blocked sites and that further visits to the site should be avoided. The Postal Service monitors Internet use, and even though employees may use the Internet occasionally for personal use, they could be disciplined or lose their network privileges if they continue to try to access a blocked site. (You can read up on the Postal Service's policy on acceptable use of the Internet in Handbook AS-805, Information Security, chapter 5.)

Types of Web Sites Being Blocked

Blocked sites include those that contain pornography, gaming, humor, music, entertainment, and streaming video and audio. To see whether a site is being blocked, visit www.securecomputing.com/cgi-bin/filter_whereV301.cgi.

If You Need Access to a Blocked Site for Business Purposes

If you believe you have a legitimate business need to visit a blocked Web site, ask your manager to send an e- mail to webproxy@imail.usps.gov.

- Corporate Information Security Office,
Information Technology, 11-13-03

[D-Link]

International Mail

IMM REVISION

Global Express Mail to Romania

Effective November 13, 2003, Global ExpressTM Mail (EMS®) service is available to all destinations in Romania. Previously, the only available EMS destination in Romania was Bucharest.

We will incorporate this revision into the printed version of International Mail Manual (IMM) 30 and also into the online version of the IMM, which can be accessed via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

International Mail Manual (IMM)

* * * * *

Individual Country Listings

* * * * *

Romania

* * * * *

Global Express Mail (EMS) (220)

* * * * *

[Revise the "Areas Served" section to read as follows:]

Areas Served: All

* * * * *

- Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 11-13-03

IMM REVISION

Global Direct - Mexico, Discontinuance of Service

Effective November 13, 2003, Global Direct - Mexico service is discontinued.

We will incorporate this revision into the printed version of International Mail Manual (IMM) 30, and also into the online version of the IMM, which can be accessed via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

International Mail Manual (IMM)

* * * * *

6 Special Programs

610 Global Direct Service

[Delete 611, Global Direct - Mexico, in its entirety. Renumber current 612, Global Direct - Canada Admail, as 611. Renumber current 613, Global Direct - Canada Publications Mail, as 612.]

611 Global Direct - Canada Admail

* * * * *

612 Global Direct - Canada Publications Mail

* * * * *

- Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 11-13-03

Philately

STAMP ANNOUNCEMENT 03-29

U.S. Flag Definitive Stamp

The Postal ServiceTM will issue a 37-cent U.S. Flag definitive stamp (Item 103700) in a water-activated gum (WAG) pane of 100 stamps on November 24, 2003, in Washington, DC. The stamp, designed and illustrated by Terrence W. McCaffrey, U.S. Postal Service®, Washington, DC, goes on sale nationwide November 24, 2003. No official ceremony is planned.

The stars and stripes of "Old Glory" are featured on this definitive stamp.

How to Order the First Day of Issue Postmark

Customers have 90 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post OfficeTM, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24, and at the Postal Store Web site at www.usps.com/shop. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice,

address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

US FLAG DEFINITIVE STAMP
POSTMASTER
SPECIAL CANCELLATIONS
PO BOX 92282
WASHINGTON DC 20090-2282

After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by February 21, 2004.

Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers first day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first day of issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by telephoning 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:

INFORMATION FULFILLMENT
DEPT 6270
US POSTAL SERVICE
PO BOX 219014
KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014

First day covers remain on sale for at least 1 year after the stamp's issuance.

Philatelic Products

There are no philatelic products for this stamp issue.

Distribution: Item 103700, U.S. Flag WAG Pane of 100

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) will not receive automatic distributions of the U.S. Flag WAG pane of 100. Only accountable paper depositories (APDs) will receive automatic distributions. SDOs requiring Item 103700 must order it from the appropriate APD using PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size (250,000 stamps).

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs will not make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post Offices. Post Offices requiring quantities of Item 103700 must order them from their designated SDO using a separate PS Form 17. SDOs must not distribute philatelic quantities to Post Offices before November 20, 2003.

Additional Supply

Post Offices requiring additional stamps must requisition them from their designated SDO using PS Form 17. SDOs requiring additional stamps must order them from the appropriate APD using PS Form 17.

Philatelic Centers

Philatelic centers requiring Item 103700 must order them from their designated SDO using PS Form 17.

- Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 11-13-03

Thomas Jefferson Memorial Priority Mail Stamp - Reprint Variety

A reprint variety of the $3.85 Thomas Jefferson Memorial Priority Mail® stamp (Item 112100) in a pressure- sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 will be available beginning in December 2003. First issued on July 30, 2002, the initial printing was performed by Banknote Corporation of America. This reprint variety, produced by Sennett Security Products, will not have an official issuance date, ceremony, or postmark. The stamp was designed by Derry Noyes, Washington, DC, and photographed by Carol Highsmith, Takoma Park, Maryland.

Dedicated April 13, 1943, on the 200th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson's birth, this picturesque landmark is located on the south side of the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. In 1934, Congress established the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission to plan, design, and construct a memorial to the nation's third president. The memorial's design is a circular domed structure based on the Pantheon in Rome. In 1819, Jefferson himself used the Pantheon as inspiration for his design of the rotunda at the University of Virginia.

Philatelic Products

There are no philatelic products for this stamp issue.

Distribution: Item 112100, $3.85 Thomas Jefferson Memorial Priority Mail® PSA Pane of 20

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs) will receive an automatic distribution quantity for this $3.85 Priority Mail PSA sheet stamp (reprint variety). Distributions are rounded up to the nearest master carton size (40,000 stamps).

Initial Supply to Post Offices

SDOs will not make a subsequent automatic distribution to Post OfficesTM. Post Offices requiring quantities of Item 112100 must order them from their designated SDO using a separate PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. SDOs may distribute stamps to Post Offices immediately upon receipt.

Philatelic Requirement

Authorized philatelic centers requiring this reprint variety of the $3.85 Thomas Jefferson Memorial stamp must order Item 112100 from their designated SDO using a separate PS Form 17. Please note on the PS Form 17 that Item 112100 produced by Sennett Security Products is required.

Additional Supply

Post Offices requiring additional stamps must requisition them from their designated SDO using PS Form 17. SDOs requiring additional stamps must order them from the appropriate accountable paper depository (APD) using PS Form 17.

For fulfilling supplemental orders from SDOs, the San Francisco, Chicago, Memphis, and New York APDs will each receive 4,000,000 additional stamps, and the Denver APD will receive 2,000,000 additional stamps

- Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 11-13-03

Pictorial Cancellations Announcement

As a community service, the Postal ServiceTM offers pictorial cancellations to commemorate local events celebrated in communities throughout the nation. A list of events for which pictorial cancellations are authorized appears below. If available, the sponsor of the pictorial cancellation appears in italics under the date. Also provided, as space permits, are illustrations of those cancellations that were reproducible and available at press time.

People attending these local events may obtain the cancellation in person at the temporary Post OfficeTM station established there. Those who cannot attend the event, but who wish to obtain the cancellation, may submit a mail order request. Pictorial cancellations are available only for the dates indicated, and requests must be postmarked no later than 30 days following the requested pictorial cancellation date.

All requests must include a stamped envelope or postcard bearing at least the minimum First-Class Mail® postage. Items submitted for cancellation may not include postage issued after the date of the requested cancellation. Such items will be returned unserviced.

Customers wishing to obtain a cancellation should affix stamps to any envelope or postcard of their choice, address the envelope or postcard to themselves or others,insert a card of postcard thickness in envelopes for sturdiness, and tuck in the flap. Place the envelope or postcard in a larger envelope and address it to: PICTORIAL CANCELLATIONS, followed by the NAME OF THE STATION,ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP+4® CODE, exactly as listed below (using all capitals and no punctuation, except thehyphen in the ZIP+4 code).

Customers can also send stamped envelopes and postcards without addresses for cancellation, as long as they supply a larger envelope with adequate postage and their return address. After applying the pictorial cancellation, the Postal Service returns the items (with or without addresses) under addressed protective cover.

- Stamp Services,
Government Relations, 11-13-03

Post Offices

MOVER'S GUIDE NEWS

Publication 75, Mover's Guide - January 2004 Edition

The January 2004 edition of Publication 75, Mover's Guide, will begin arriving at your facility by the first week of December. Please do not use the January 2004 edition before January 1, 2004. The advertisers included in the January edition are not expecting to receive consumer requests until after that date.

If you run out of the September 2003 Mover's Guide before the next print cycle, you can order additional copies (up to 100) from the Material Distribution Center as follows:

• Touch Tone Order Entry (TTOE): Call 800-332-0317, option 2.

Note: You must be registered to use TTOE. To register, call 800-332-0317, option 1, 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 FormFlow), and send it as an attachment to the e-mail address MDC, Customer Service or to mcustome@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

Use the following information to order the September 2003 edition of Publication 75:

PSIN: PUB 75
NSN: 7610-03-000-4795
Unit of Measure: EA
Bulk Pack Quantity: 100
Minimum Order Quantity: N/A
Quick Pick Number: 441
Price: N/A
Edition Date: 09/03

If you need more than 100 additional copies or would like to request any changes in the number of copies that your Post OfficeTM presently receives, contact Imagitas at 800-816-6837.

If Mover's Guide is not usually shipped directly to your facility, please begin placing your orders for the January 2004 edition by the last week of December. Follow the instructions given above for ordering from the MDC.

If your Post Office receives more copies of the January 2004 edition than it needs, please return all extra copies to the following address:

ATTN DAVID FALLON
IMAGITAS
48 WOERD ST
WALTHAM MA 02453-3826

- Address Management,
Intelligent Mail and Address Quality, 11-13-03

NOTICE

FY2004-FY2005 Erasable Wall Calendar in Material Distribution Center

The two-year FY2004-FY2005 Erasable Wall Calendar (printed on both front and back) is now in the Material Distribution Center (MDC). The calendar is designed for use as a wall calendar and has an attached marker. The unit cost is $4.98.

There is no automatic distribution for the calendars.

You can order calendars from the MDC by one of the following means:

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

Note: You must be registered to use TTOE. To register, call 800-332-0317, option 1, 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 by using FormFlow), and send it as an attachment to the e-mail address MDC, Customer Service or to mcustome@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 the calendar is as follows:

PSIN: O102
NSN: 7610-03-000-5257
Unit of Measure: EA
Minimum Order Quantity: 2
Bulk Pack Quantity: 100
Price: $4.98
Quick Pick Number: N/A
Description: Calendar, FY Planning

- Product Marketing,
Product Development, 11-13-03

Retail

RETAIL ACCEPTANCE

Information About Online Shipping Labels Is Available on the Intranet

Retail acceptance information for online shipping labels is now available on the Postal ServiceTM internal Web site at http://blue.usps.gov/delivery/cs_retail_online_labels.htm.

This information will assist postmasters, managers, supervisors, and employees in working with online shipping labels, which enable customers to print shipping labels with or without PC Postage® service and pay for postage with their credit cards.

The Web site includes the following information:

• A summary of online labels and postage options.

• Standard operating procedures for retail acceptance of the following services:

- Confirmation ServicesTM (both Delivery Con- firmationTM service and Signature ConfirmationTM service).

- Express Mail® service.

- Global Express MailTM service.

- Global Express Guaranteed® service.

• Sample labels for all the services noted above.

• Frequently asked questions.

• A stand-up talk discussing online labels.

The information on this Web site clarifies existing policies and does not represent changes to those policies.

- Product Information Requirements,
Product Development, 11-13-03