Domestic Mail

DMM REVISION

Clarification of Other Nonmailable Matter

Effective March 4, 2004, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM™) C010.10.2 is revised to clarify the handling of other nonmailable matter. The word "forwarded" is replaced by "delivered" since the reference concerns the delivery of and not the forwarding of nonmailable matter.

We will incorporate this revision into the printed version of DMM 59 and into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

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C Characteristics and Content

C000 General Information

C010 General Mailability Standards

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10.0 NONMAILABLE MATTER

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10.2 Other Nonmailable Matter

[Revise text to read as follows:]

Matter is nonmailable also when it cannot be delivered because of an illegible, incorrect, or insufficient address, or when it does not meet USPS® standards for mail preparation, classification, postage rates, size, or weight.

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- Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 3-4-04

DMM REVISION

Refunds for Undated Metered Mail

Effective March 4, 2004, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM™) P014 is revised to allow refunds for unused, undated metered postage. This mailing standard will benefit any mailer who generates significant quantities of unused, undated metered postage and is able to meet the refund criteria. In addition, this revision includes minor clarifications to the mailing standards for refunds of unused, dated meter indicia. Portions of P014 are reorganized to consolidate all of the information related to submitting a refund request for unused meter indicia. Also included is a clarification to specify that a contract postal unit (CPU) will handle refunds for unused meter indicia in accordance with the contract each CPU has executed with the Postal Service™ for the sale of metered postage.

Inclusion of a date in meter indicia is optional for Standard Mail™ and Package Services items. Many mailers choose to omit the date to increase their production flexibility and allow them to deposit the mailing at any time. The DMM is revised to allow the Postal Service to grant a refund for undated metered mail when the mailer can provide sufficient documentation with the refund request to support and validate the proper amount of the refund, the date the mailing was prepared, and the validity of the indicia on the mailpieces. The existing time-frame restrictions for dated metered mail apply to undated metered mail. Additionally, refunds for unused, undated metered postage will only be considered when the customer submits at least 500 mailpieces from a single mailing, or, as an alternative, indicia worth at least $500 from a single mailing, along with the required supporting documentation. When more than one meter was used to prepare the mailing, a separate PS Form 3533, Application and Voucher for Refund of Postage, Fees, and Services, must be submitted for each meter used to print the unused indicia submitted for refund. Mailers concerned about their inability to obtain a refund for unused, undated metered postage because they have less than the required mail volume or cannot provide the required documentation should use dated meter indicia or permit imprint for their Standard Mail and Package Services mailpieces, as permitted, in lieu of undated meter indicia.

We will incorporate these revisions into the printed version of DMM 59 and into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

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P Postage and Payment Methods

P000 Basic Information

P010 General Standards

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P014 Refunds and Exchanges

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2.0 POSTAGE AND FEES REFUNDS

2.1 Refund Standards

A refund for postage and fees may be made:

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[Add new item e to read as follows:]

e. Under the terms of a contract between the contract postal unit (CPU) and the USPS^® for unused postage printed by the CPU.

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[Delete 2.5 and 2.6. Renumber current 2.7 through 2.12 as new 2.5 through 2.10, respectively.]

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2.7 Applying for Refund

[Revise text of renumbered 2.7 to read as follows:]

For refunds under 2.0, the customer must apply for a refund on Form 3533; submit it to the postmaster; and provide the envelope, wrapper, or a part of it showing the names and addresses of the sender and addressee, canceled postage and postal markings, or other evidence of postage and fees paid. Refunds for metered postage are submitted under 3.0.

2.8 Ruling on Refund Request

[Revise text of renumbered 2.8 to read as follows:]

Refund requests are decided based on the specific type of postage or mailing:

a. Refunds under 2.0. The local postmaster grants or denies refunds under 2.0. The customer may appeal an adverse ruling through the postmaster to the rates and classification service center (RCSC) manager who issues the final agency decision.

b. Dated metered postage, except for PC Postage® systems, under 3.0. The postmaster at the licensing Post Office™ grants or denies requests for refunds for dated metered postage under 3.0. The licensee may appeal an adverse ruling within 30 days through the manager, Postage Technology Management, USPS Headquarters (see G043 for address), who issues the final agency decision. The original meter indicia must be submitted with the appeal.

c. Undated metered postage under 3.0. The manager, business mail entry (MBME), at the district Post Office overseeing the mailer's licensing Post Office, or designee authorized in writing, grants or denies requests for refunds for undated metered postage under 3.0. The customer may appeal a decision on undated metered postage within 30 days through the MBME, or designee, to the RCSC manager who issues the final agency decision. The original meter indicia must be submitted with the appeal.

d. PC Postage systems under 3.0. The system provider grants or denies a request for a refund for dated indicia printed by PC Postage systems under 3.0 using established USPS criteria. For dated PC Postage indicia only, the licensee may appeal an adverse ruling within 30 days through the manager, Postage Technology Management, USPS Headquarters, who issues the final agency decision. The original indicia must be submitted with the appeal.

e. Optional procedure (OP) mailings. Mailer's request for a refund must be submitted to the manager, Business Mailers Support (BMS), USPS Headquarters (see G043 for address).

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3.0 REFUND REQUEST FOR POSTAGE EVIDENCING SYSTEMS AND METERED POSTAGE

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[Revise title and text of 3.2 to read as follows:]

3.2 Unused, Dated Postage Evidencing System Indicia, Except for PC Postage Indicia

Unused, dated postage meter indicia are considered for refund only if complete, legible, and valid. PC Postage indicia refunds are processed under 3.3. All other metered postage refund requests must be submitted as follows:

a. The licensee must submit the request. The refund request must include proof that the person or entity requesting the refund is the licensee for the postage meter that printed the indicia. Acceptable proof includes a copy of the lease, rental agreement, or contract.

b. The licensee must submit the request, along with the items bearing the unused postage, to the licensing Post Office. The items must be sorted by meter used and then by postage value shown in the indicia, and must be properly faced and packaged in groups of 100 identical items when quantities allow. The request is processed by the USPS. The postmaster approves or denies the refund request.

c. The licensee must submit the refund request within 60 days of the date(s) shown in the indicia.

d. When the unused metered postage is affixed to a mailpiece, the refund request must be submitted with the entire envelope or wrapper. The unused metered postage must not be removed from the mailpiece once applied.

e. Indicia printed on labels or tapes not stuck to wrappers or envelopes must be submitted loose and must not be stapled together or attached to any paper or other medium. However, self-adhesive labels printed without a backing may be submitted on a plain sheet of paper.

f. If a part of one indicium is printed on one envelope or card and the remaining part on one or more others, the envelopes or cards must be fastened together to show that they represent one indicium.

g. Refunds are allowable for indicia on metered reply envelopes only when it is obvious that an incorrect amount of postage was printed on them.

h. The refund request must be submitted with a properly completed Form 3533 (see I021). A separate Form 3533 must be completed for each meter for which a refund is requested. All identifying information and all sections related to the refund requested must be completed. Charges for processing a refund request for unused, dated meter indicia are as follows:

(1) If the total face value of the indicia is $350 or less, the amount refunded is 90% of the face value. USPS may process the refund payment locally via a no-fee postal money order.

(2) If the total face value is more than $350, the amount refunded is reduced by a figure representing $35 per hour, or fraction thereof, for the actual hours to process the refund, with a minimum charge of $35. The postmaster will submit the approved Form 3533 to the USPS Imaging and Scanning Center for payment processing through the Accounting Service Center.

[Renumber current 3.3 and 3.4 as new 3.5 and 3.6, respectively. Add new 3.3 and 3.4 to read as follows:]

3.3 Unused, Dated PC Postage Indicia

Unused, dated PC Postage indicia are considered for refund only if complete, legible, and valid. The refund request must be submitted as follows:

a. Only the PC Postage licensee may request the refund. The licensee must submit the request, along with the items bearing the unused postage, to the system provider. The request is processed by the provider, not the USPS.

b. The licensee must submit the refund request within 30 days of the date(s) shown in the indicia.

c. The refund request must be submitted as required by 3.2.d through 3.2.g.

d. The provider may, at its discretion, charge for processing a refund request.

3.4 Undated Metered Postage

Unused, undated postage evidencing system indicia are considered for refund only if complete, legible, and valid. The refund request must be submitted as follows:

a. Only the meter licensee or the commercial entity that prepared the mailing for the licensee using the licensee's meter may request the refund. The request must include a letter signed by the meter licensee or the commercial entity that prepared the mailing for the licensee explaining why the mailpieces were not mailed.

b. The minimum quantity of unused, undated metered postage that may be submitted for refund is 500 pieces from a single mailing or, as an alternative, indicia with a total postage value of at least $500 from a single mailing.

c. The meter licensee, or the commercial entity that prepared the mailing for the licensee using the licensee's meter, must submit the request, along with the items bearing the unused postage and the required documentation, to the manager, business mail entry, at the district Post Office overseeing the mailer's licensing Post Office, or to a designee authorized in writing. The manager or designee approves or denies the refund request.

d. The request must include the items bearing the unused postage, sorted by meter used and then by postage value shown in the indicia. The items must be properly faced and packaged in groups of 100 identical items, when quantities allow, and must meet the requirements of 3.2.d through 3.2.g.

e. The request must be submitted within 60 days of the date the mail was metered. Supporting documentation must be submitted to validate the date. Examples of supporting documentation include the job order from the customer, production records, the USPS qualification report, spoilage report, and reorders created report, as well as customer billing records, postage statements, and a sample mailpiece.

f. The refund request must be submitted with a properly completed Form 3533 (see I021). All identifying information and all sections related to the refund requested must be completed. When more than one meter was used to prepare the mailing, a separate Form 3533 must be completed for each.

(1) If the total face value of the indicia for a single mailing submitted for refund is $350 or less, the amount refunded is 90% of the face value. USPS may process the refund payment locally via a no-fee postal money order.

(2) If the total face value of the indicia for a single mailing submitted for refund is more than $350, the amount refunded is reduced by a figure representing $35 per hour, or fraction thereof, for the actual hours to process the refund, with a minimum charge of $35. The MBME will submit the approved Form 3533 to the USPS Imaging and Scanning Center for payment processing through the Accounting Service Center.

3.5 Ineligible Metered Postage Items

The following metered postage items are ineligible for refunds:

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[Revise text of renumbered item d to read as follows:]

d. Indicia lacking identification of the licensing Post Office, or other required information.

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- Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 3-4-04

DMM REVISION

Alternative Addressing Formats

Effective April 1, 2004, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM™) A020 is revised to specify when alternative addressing formats may be used and to clarify the differences between the various formats.

Three types of alternative addressing formats may be used in lieu of the typical addressing format (i.e., addressee name; address; city, state, and ZIP Code™). These alternative addressing formats are as follows:

• A simplified address format (such as "Postal Customer") with no actual delivery address.

• An occupant address format with a generic customer reference and a specific delivery address.

• An exceptional address format with traditional addressing elements and a "current resident" alternative to provide for delivery even if the specific addressee is no longer at the address

In addition, postage payment options for mailpieces with simplified addresses are specified and prohibit the use of uncanceled stamps to enable efficient handling and processing of this mail. Corresponding sections of DMM E050 and F010 also are revised.

We will incorporate this revision into the printed edition of DMM 59 and into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

A Addressing

A000 Basic Addressing

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A020 Alternative Addressing Formats

Summary

[Revise text to read as follows:]

A020 specifies the conditions for use and treatment of mail bearing alternative addressing formats. These formats are the simplified address format (i.e., "Postal Customer" in lieu of specific name and address); the occupant address format (i.e., "Occupant" in lieu of specific name, followed by specific address); and the exceptional address format (i.e., "Jane Doe or Current Occupant," followed by specific address).

[Renumber current 1.0 through 3.0 as new 2.0 through 4.0. Add new 1.0 to read as follows:]

1.0 GENERAL USE AND TREATMENT

1.1 Use

Alternative addressing formats may be used as described in 2.0 through 4.0.

1.2 Prohibited Use

Alternative addressing formats may not be used on:

a. Express Mail® pieces.

b. Mail with any special service under S900.

c. Mail with any ancillary service endorsement under F010.

d. Periodicals intended to count as subscriber or requester copies to meet the applicable circulation standards.

e. Mail addressed to an overseas military post office under A010.6.0.

1.3 Treatment

Mail with an occupant or an exceptional address format is delivered as addressed and is not forwarded. Such mail is treated as undeliverable only when the address is incorrect or incomplete or when the mail cannot be delivered for another reason related solely to the address (e.g., a vacant building), as shown in Exhibit F010.4.1. Periodicals publishers are notified only when mailpieces with the occupant or exceptional address formats are undeliverable for solely address-related reasons. Mail with a simplified address format is distributed to all deliveries on a route or to Post Office™ boxholders. Undeliverable mail with any alternative addressing format is disposed of as waste under F010.8.1.

2.0 SIMPLIFIED ADDRESS

2.1 Use-Rural and Highway Contract Routes, P.O. Boxholders

[Revise text of renumbered 2.1 to read as follows:]

The simplified address format (i.e., "Postal Customer") may be used on mail only when complete distribution (except as provided for congressional mail under E050) is made to each family or boxholder on a rural or highway contract route at any Post Office and/or to all Post Office boxholders at a Post Office without city carrier service. The Post Office name and state may be added after the simplified address. The word "Local," instead of the Post Office name and state, is optional. Also, a more specific address may be used, such as the following options:

a. "Rural Route Boxholder" for mail intended to all boxholders on a rural route.

b. "Highway Contract Route Boxholder" for mail intended to all boxholders on a highway contract route.

c. "Post Office Boxholder" for mail intended to all Post Office boxholders.

2.2 Use-City Routes, P.O. Boxholders

[Revise introductory text of renumbered 2.2 to read as follows:]

When distribution is to be made to each active possible delivery on city carrier routes or to each Post Office boxholder at a Post Office with city carrier service, the addressee's name; mailing address; and city, state, and ZIP Code may be omitted from the address only on pieces mailed as official matter by agencies of the federal government (including mail with the congressional frank prepared under E050); any state, county, or municipal government; and the governments of the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any U.S. territory or possession listed in G010. The requirement for distribution to each stop or Post Office boxholder may be modified for congressional mail under E050. The following also applies:

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2.4 Postage

[Revise text of renumbered 2.4 to read as follows:]

Postage must be paid with permit imprint, meter indicia, precanceled stamps, or other authorized methods not requiring cancellation, according to the standards for the class of mail.

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[Delete renumbered 2.6, 3.2, 4.2, and 4.4. Renumber current 4.3 as new 4.2.]

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E Eligibility

E000 Special Eligibility Standards

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E050 Official Mail (Franked)

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2.0 ADDRESSING

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2.2 Alternative Addressing

[Revise text of 2.2 to read as follows:]

Mail sent under the franking privilege of a member of or member-elect to Congress or a delegate, delegate-elect, resident commissioner, or resident commissioner-elect to the U.S. House of Representatives may be addressed under the alternative addressing formats in 2.0 through 4.0 for delivery to customers within the congressional district, state, or area that he or she represents. A member of the House of Representatives may not, under the franking privilege, use the alternative addressing formats to send mail outside the congressional district that he or she represents. Any representative-at-large may send franked mail with the simplified address format to Postal ServiceTM customers within the entire state that he or she represents.

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2.4. Delivery

[Revise text of 2.4 to read as follows:]

Mail with a simplified address format is delivered within the district, state, or area to any of the following:

a. Each boxholder or family on a rural or highway contract route.

b. Each Post Office boxholder.

c. Each active possible delivery on city carrier routes.

d. For deliveries under 2.4a and 2.4c, partial distribution of simplified address mailings is permitted only when the carrier's delivery territory crosses congressional district boundaries. In these cases, complete distribution is made to the portion of the route within a single congressional district.

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F Forwarding and Related Services

F000 Basic Services

F010 Basic Information

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4.0 BASIC TREATMENT

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Exhibit 4.1 USPS Endorsements for Mail
Undeliverable as Addressed

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[Revise the footnote to read as follows:]

*Alternative addressing formats may not be used on the following: Express Mail pieces; mail with any special service; mail sent with any ancillary service endorsement; or mail sent to any overseas military post office. When an alternative addressing format is used on Periodicals pieces, the publisher is notified of nondelivery only for those reasons marked with an asterisk (*).

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5.0 CLASS TREATMENT FOR ANCILLARY SERVICES

5.1 First-Class Mail and Priority Mail

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[Revise item b to read as follows:]

b. Alternative addressing formats under A020 may not be used on mail with any ancillary service endorsement or mail with any special service. Forwarding service is not provided for such mail. Undeliverable First-Class Mail® pieces with any alternative addressing format are returned with the reason for nondelivery attached only if the address is incorrect or incomplete or the mail is undeliverable for another reason as shown in Exhibit 4.1.

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5.2 Periodicals

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[Revise item b to read as follows:]

b. Publications with an alternative addressing format under A020 are delivered to the address when possible. Forwarding service is not provided for such mail. Periodicals publishers are notified only when mailpieces with the occupant or exceptional address formats are undeliverable for solely address-related reasons.

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- Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 3-4-04

DMM REVISION

Customized MarketMail - Addressing, Attachments, and Mail Preparation

Effective March 4, 2004, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM™) E610.4.2, E610.4.5, E660.1.2, M072.1.0, and M660.2.0 are revised to amend or clarify the standards for Customized MarketMail™ (CMM) service for the following:

• Addressing.

• Standard Mail™ attachments.

• Mail preparation including packaging, labeling, and containerization.

These revisions include adding two enhancements to CMM service: (1) using complete standard delivery addresses, and (2) affixing Standard Mail attachments. Both enhancements have been requested by mailers and by direct marketing organizations not long after the launch of CMM service on August 10, 2003.

Addressing

Revised DMM E660.1.2 adds the option of using a standard addressing format under DMM A010 to the approved formats for addressing CMM pieces. The standard addressing format is a complete delivery address containing the name of the intended recipient (addressee).

This option is in addition to the two alternative addressing formats permitted for CMM pieces. CMM mailers may not, however, use the simplified address format under DMM A020.2.0. The two permitted alternative addressing formats are as follows:

• Occupant address format under DMM A020.3.0. That is, "Occupant," "Resident," "Householder," or "Postal Customer" used in place of an addressee name.

• Exceptional address format under DMM A020.4.0. That is, "or Current Resident" or "or Current Occupant" used with the recipient's name such as "Jane Doe or Current Resident."

Including the optional use of complete standard delivery addresses on CMM pieces directly meets the needs of mailers, marketers, and advertisers who prefer preparing CMM pieces with complete standard delivery addresses for targeting specific market segments or who must use such addressing formats for observing certain requirements in fulfilling customer requests to offers and solicitations. The three addressing formats now available for CMM mailers are shown in the following chart.

Regardless of which of the three address formats is used, all CMM pieces must still include the endorsement "Carrier - Leave If No Response," as specified in DMM D042. This endorsement ensures that a deliverable CMM piece is to be left in a safe location near the recipient's mail receptacle if the piece cannot be placed inside the receptacle.

CMM pieces may not bear an ancillary service endorsement, either on the host CMM piece or on any attachment to the CMM piece (see the following section "Standard Mail Attachments"). As with all Standard Mail pieces not bearing an ancillary service endorsement, CMM pieces that are undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) may not be forwarded or returned. All UAA CMM pieces not otherwise deliverable under DMM D042 must be disposed of by the Postal Service™.

Standard Mail Attachments

Revised DMM E610.4.2 clarifies that incidental First- Class Mail^® attachments and enclosures are not permitted with CMM pieces, regardless of content of the CMM piece. This clarification also supports revised DMM E610.4.5, which now permits mailers to attach to CMM pieces Standard Mail matter up to 1/4 inch thick.

Permissible attachments could include business reply mail cards or envelopes, individual coupons or coupon booklets, thin merchandise samples, advertising magnets, pockets containing inserts, and other types of marketing material. Before this revision, attachments of Standard Mail matter were permitted with Standard Mail service only if the host pieces were sorted to carrier routes.

The face of the attachment (that is, the visible side or part of the attachment) must not bear any rate marking or endorsement not permitted for the host piece. At the time of mailing, the CMM piece must show only one complete delivery address. If the attachment is a reply card, the address for returning the piece must not be visible. For example, the delivery address side of a business reply mail (BRM) card must be the side used for attaching the piece to the host piece in order to conceal the First-Class Mail marking and the BRM markings and return delivery address.

An attachment is considered part of the CMM piece for determining maximum mailing weight and dimensions. Any CMM piece bearing an attachment must not exceed the maximum weight of 3.3 ounces or the maximum thickness of 3/4 inch at the thickest point of the CMM piece. Folded or multipage attachments must be secured with tabs or similar devices to prevent their opening during handling.

Every piece in the CMM mailing using attachments must bear an identical-weight attachment but not necessarily the same attachment. Because many CMM mailings are national in preparation and distribution but often segmented by market for local delivery, a mailer may want to attach coupons with different addresses or designs representing different local stores or dealers.

No matter how designed or configured, CMM attachments must not interfere with the processing or delivery of the host CMM piece. CMM pieces with attachments must meet all physical requirements that are specific to CMM service, including size and flexibility.

For purposes of the definition of attachments, magnet strips that are bonded to the host piece are not considered attachments but an integral part of the construction of the CMM piece. Many mailers affix these strips to their pieces to allow customers to adhere the entire CMM piece to a metal surface such as a filing cabinet in the office or a refrigerator in the .

Mail Preparation

These revised standards specify that CMM mailings may be prepared for distribution to destination delivery units using standard Postal Service letter trays, flat trays, or sacks as well as Postal Service-supplied mailing envelopes and boxes (e.g., Priority Mail® boxes) and mailer- supplied containers. The standards for required and optional packaging and containerizing are also clarified to give mailers the greatest flexibility in preparing CMM pieces for mailing.

Priority Mail and Express Mail® drop shipments may be prepared, as appropriate, in Postal Service Express Mail pouches and Priority Mail sacks, as well as in Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail boxes and envelopes. As an alternative to Postal Service Priority Mail sacks, boxes, and envelopes, Postal Service letter trays may be used for Priority Mail drop shipment if the mailer affixes Label 23, Priority Mail Drop Shipment. Mailer-supplied containers, such as cartons and envelopes, may also be used for Express Mail and Priority Mail drop shipments.

This clarification also provides that mailer-supplied Priority Mail and Express Mail drop shipment containers must show the appropriate instruction "Postmaster - Open and Distribute."

Additionally, this revision requires the use of Tag 157, Express Mail Drop Shipment, for Express Mail drop shipments not prepared in Express Mail pouches and Tag 159, Priority Mail Drop Shipment Tag, for Priority Mail drop shipments not prepared in Priority Mail sacks. Mailer-produced facsimiles of Tags 157 and 159, including adhesive label designs or tags incorporated into the address labels used on the containers, may be approved by the local business mail entry office.

Because Express Mail and Priority Mail drop shipments do not require PS Form 8125, Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Verification and Clearance, securing the tags to the drop shipment pouches or sacks or affixing the tags to the outside of the mailing containers remains critical for efficient distribution as well as revenue assurance.

At the time of verification of the drop shipments, Postal Service acceptance employees stamp and initial these tags to ensure proper verification of postage payment for the mailpieces inside the mailing containers. At the time of receipt of the drop shipments at the destination facility, Postal Service employees opening and distributing the contents of the drop shipments check the tag to determine that the mail had been properly accepted.

Reference Information

In support of CMM service, the Postal Service maintains a Web site dedicated to updated information on CMM service at www.usps.com/customizedmarketmail. This site includes frequently asked questions, testimonials, benefits, a list of commercial printers, and a special Quick Service Guide on CMM service, as well as links to related information on using the mail for selling products and services.

We will incorporate these revisions into the printed version of DMM 59 and into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

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E Eligibility

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E600 Standard Mail

E610 Basic Standards

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4.0 ENCLOSURES AND ATTACHMENTS

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4.2 Incidental First-Class Attachments and Enclosures

[Add the following sentence after the first sentence of 4.2 to read as follows:]

***Incidental First-Class Mail matter may not be enclosed in or attached to matter mailed as Customized MarketMail pieces under E660.***

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[Revise the heading of 4.5 to read as follows:]

4.5 Standard Mail Attachments

[Revise 4.5 to read as follows:]

Standard Mail pieces may bear an attachment that is eligible as Standard Mail matter if these additional conditions are met:

a. Pieces bearing the attachment are claimed as Customized MarketMail (CMM) pieces under E660 or as Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail pieces under E630.

b. The face of the attachment may bear only the rate markings and endorsements permitted for the rate claimed for the host piece.

c. At the time of mailing, the piece shows only one complete delivery address. If the attachment is a reply card, the address for returning the piece is not visible.

d. Enhanced Carrier Route host pieces are larger than 6 by 11 inches. CMM host pieces are any size permitted under C600.2.0.

e. The attachment is not larger than the host piece and does not extend beyond the host piece. An attachment affixed to a CMM piece may not be greater than 1/4 inch thick at its thickest point.

f. Each piece in the mailing bears the attachment, and the attachment is of identical size, weight, and positioning on the host piece. Different wording or designs may be used.

g. The attachment does not interfere with processing or delivery. Folded or multipage attachments must be secured to prevent opening during handling.

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E660 Customized MarketMail

1.0 BASIC STANDARDS

* * * * *

[Revise the heading of 1.2 to read as follows:]

1.2 All Pieces

All pieces in a CMM mailing must:

* * * * *

[Revise the first sentence of 1.2c to read as follows:]

c. Bear a complete delivery address using the general addressing formats in A010 or the exceptional or occupant address formats in A020, with the correct ZIP Code™ or ZIP+4® code.***

* * * * *

[Revise 1.2c(3) and 1.2c(4) to read as follows:]

(3) The ZIP Code accuracy standard in A030.2.0 must be met.

(4) At the mailer's option, a carrier route information line under M014 may be added. If this option is used, a carrier route code must be applied to every piece in the mailing and must meet the carrier route accuracy standard in A030.3.0.

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M Mail Preparation and Sortation

M000 General Preparation Standards

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M070 Mixed Classes

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M072 Express Mail and Priority Mail Drop Shipment

1.0 BASIC STANDARDS

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1.5 Tag 157

[Add the following sentence at the end of 1.5 to read as follows:]

***This tag or an approved facsimile must also be affixed to containers used for Express Mail drop shipment of Customized MarketMail (CMM) pieces.

1.6 Tag 159

[Add the following sentence at end of 1.6 to read as follows:]

***This tag or an approved facsimile must also be affixed to containers used for Priority Mail drop shipment of CMM pieces.

* * * * *

[Add new 1.8 to read as follows:]

1.8 Open and Distribute

In addition to Tag 157 or Tag 159, USPS®-supplied cartons and envelopes and mailer-supplied containers used for Express Mail or Priority Mail drop shipment must be addressed "POSTMASTER-OPEN AND DISTRIBUTE"; followed by street address (mailing address) of the facility on the next line; and city, state, and ZIP Code on the last line.

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M600 Standard Mail (Nonautomation)

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M660 Customized MarketMail

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[Revise 2.0 to read as follows:]

2.0 PREPARATION

2.1 Required Packaging

Packaging is required before sacking, traying, or filling other types of mailing containers. A package must be prepared when two or more addressed pieces are destined to the same 5-digit ZIP Code or to the same carrier route if the optional carrier route presort level is used. The maximum weight for any package is 20 pounds. Pieces of irregular thickness must be counterstacked as provided in M020. At the mailer's option, facing slips, optional endorsement lines, or pressure-sensitive package labels may be used on packages. CMM pieces prepared in optional carrier route packages are subject to M050 and E630 but are not required to meet any minimum number of pieces per route.

2.2 Packaging and Labeling

Preparation sequence, package size, and labeling:

a. Carrier route (optional); no minimum; and carrier route information line (required).

b. 5-digit (required); no minimum; and facing slip (optional), red Label 5 (optional), or optional endorsement line (OEL).

2.3 Required Containerizing

The following standards apply to containerizing CMM packages:

a. Packages and single pieces to a destination must be prepared in 5-digit containers or optionally in 5-digit scheme under L606, carrier route, or 5-digit carrier routes containers, with no minimum volume (piece or weight) required for an individual container.

b. Packages for PVDS drop shipment mailings or non- PVDS mailings under E650 must be placed in letter trays, flat trays, or sacks. Packages in Priority Mail and Express Mail drop shipments under M072 may be placed in USPS-supplied or mailer-supplied mailing containers.

c. The container size must be appropriate to the dimensions of the pieces, and the number of containers must be appropriate to the volume of pieces in the mailing.

d. If more than three types of containers are used, the mailing must be prepared using an approved manifest mailing system (MMS), unless the Business Mailer Support (BMS) manager approves another postage payment system. Each mailing presented in mailer-supplied containers must include sample containers for tare weight calculations.

2.4 Containerizing and Labeling

Containers are prepared and labeled as follows:

a. PVDS drop shipments and non-PVDS mailings under E650 must be prepared in 5-digit trays or sacks, or as an option, in 5-digit scheme (under L606), carrier route, or 5-digit carrier routes trays or sacks, labeled as follows:

(1) Line 1: For 5-digit, carrier route, 5-digit carrier routes, city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code on mail; for 5-digit scheme (optional), L606.

(2) Line 2: "DEL LTR STD CMM MAN" (for letter trays); "DEL FLTS STD CMM MAN" (for flat trays); "DEL STD CMM MAN" (for sacks).

(3) Line 3: Office of mailing or mailer information (see M031).

b. Express Mail and Priority Mail drop shipments must be prepared in USPS-provided Express Mail or Priority Mail containers (i.e., pouches, sacks, cartons, or envelopes) or in mailer-supplied containers, labeled under M072.

* * * * *

- Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 3-4-04

DMM REMINDER

Presort Destination Package Labels - April Effective Date

Effective April 1, 2004, the new barcoded format for pressure-sensitive presort destination package labels (stickers) must be used instead of the older, nonbarcoded labels. Extensive information on the new labels, along with the supporting changes to the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM™), appeared in the article "DMM Revision: Presort Destination Package Labels - New Barcoded Format" (Postal Bulletin 22114, 10-30-03, pages 10-26).

Ordering instructions for these labels appear in the article "New and Revised Labels: Barcoded Presort Destination Package Labels - Ordering Instructions" on page 13 of this Postal Bulletin.

Background

In recent years, numerous automated advances in mail processing technology developed by the Postal Service™ have led to faster, more efficient methods of sorting individual letter-size and flat-size pieces. New equipment - designated as the Automated Package Processing System (APPS) - will extend similar benefits of automated processing to small, lightweight parcels and to flat-size pieces, such as magazines and catalogs prepared in packages (several mailpieces presorted and secured together into a single unit). The APPS equipment represents the next generation of the small parcel and bundle sorter (SPBS) currently used by the Postal Service.

With its large processing capacity, the APPS will replace current labor-intensive methods with more efficient automated methods that improve the sortation of parcels, Priority Mail® pieces, and presort destination packages of flat-size mailpieces. The APPS contains several advanced features, including an integrated optical character/barcode reader with four-sided image capture. With this feature, the APPS can read and interpret information from properly prepared parcels and presort destination packages and automatically direct the parcels and presort packages to the appropriate bins. The changes to the presort labels ensure that presort packages can be scanned and sorted efficiently on the APPS.

Purpose and Placement

Applying a pressure-sensitive package label to the top mailpiece in a presort package of banded mailpieces - rather than using an optional endorsement line (OEL) - is one method that mailers use to indicate the sortation level for certain letter-size mail, flat-size mail, and small parcels that must be packaged before being placed into a tray or sack or onto a pallet. The sortation level also determines the appropriate container level for sorting the individual packages.

For letter-size mail, the label must be placed in the lower left corner of the address side of the top piece in the package. For flat-size mail, the label should be placed to the lower left of the address area on the address side of the top piece in the package to ensure optimal recognition. The label must not be obscured by banding or shrinkwrap.

Label Format Changes

The changes affect the five pressure-sensitive package labels that mailers currently use. The size of the new rectangular labels is 3/4 inch wide by 1/2 inch high. A width- modulated barcode appears on the right side of the new labels as a unique indicator of the sortation level. The bars of the barcode are 0.02 inch wide and 0.50 inch high. The rightmost bar ends 0.04 inch from the right edge of the label. Each label also contains a human-readable single alpha or numeric character to the left of the barcode, corresponding to the sortation level of the package as shown in the following table.

Package Labels - Sortation Characters and Colors

The new label design allows the APPS equipment to find and read the necessary information quickly. At the same time, the redundant (barcode) information ensures a higher read rate. The various pressure-sensitive package labels are approximately the same color as the nonbarcoded labels. Besides label shape, label size, and barcode, the only other changes are the following:

• The alpha character "D" that appears on the older red labels for the 5-digit sortation level is replaced with the numeric "5."

• The alpha characters "MXD" that appear on the older tan labels for the mixed ADC sortation level are replaced with the single alpha character "X."

Label Availability

The new barcoded labels are all available from the Material Distribution Center in Topeka, Kansas (see below). Orders placed for labels will be fulfilled only with the new barcoded labels. Managers of business mail entry, working with their staffs, must ensure that all Post Offices™ within the service area of their district have access to the new barcoded pressure-sensitive package labels as needed.

Effective April 1, 2004, mailers not using OELs will be required to use only the barcoded pressure-sensitive package labels rather than the nonbarcoded labels. Mailers with questions about the use or availability of the new labels should contact the local district manager of business mail entry.

Mailers needing to find the address and telephone number of the appropriate business mail entry unit should see DMM G042 or go to http://pe.usps.gov; click on Postal Links in the upper left corner, then on Business Mail Entry under Postal Locator.

- Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 3-4-04

NEW AND REVISED LABELS

Barcoded Presort Destination Package Labels - Ordering Instructions

In October 2003, the Postal Service™ revised five barcoded pressure-sensitive presort destination package labels that mailers affix to the address side of the top mailpiece in packages of mailpieces instead of using optional endorsement lines (OELs). Here are the five labels:

• Label F, Firm - Same Address.

• Label 5, Same 5-Digit ZIP Code.

• Label 3, Same 3-Digit ZIP Code.

• Label A, All for ADC.

• Label X, Mixed ADC.

Some of these labels are revisions with familiar names and some are new, but all of them have this new barcoded format. The new design has no impact on mail preparation and current mailing standards.

The presort labels are 3/4 inch wide by 1/2 inch high and include both a width-modulated barcode and a presort character that identify the presort level of the package. The labels are printed in colors similar to those used for the older, nonbarcoded labels. Beginning on April 1, 2004, the new, barcoded labels must be used in place of the older, nonbarcoded labels.

You can order the five barcoded labels from the Material Distribution Center (MDC) by using touch tone order entry (TTOE): 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).

Use the following information to order the barcoded labels:

Until April 1, 2004, mailers may continue using the nonbarcoded labels. Managers of business mail entry must ensure that every Post Office™ within the service area of their districts has access to the new barcoded pressure-sensitive package labels as needed. Mailers can request these new labels from their local Post Office or business mail entry unit.

- Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 3-4-04