Finance

NEW IRC PROCEDURES

2006 Rate Increase Affects Sales of International Reply Coupons

The postage rate increase scheduled for January 8, 2006, affects the price of the international reply coupon (IRC). The new price will be $1.85 per coupon.

Offices must follow the procedures listed below when the new rate goes into effect on January 8, 2006.

Stamp Distribution Offices, Stamp Service Centers, and Their Accountable Paper Depositories

Stamp distribution offices (SDOs), stamp service centers (SSCs), and their accountable paper depositories (APDs) must retain and use their current inventory of Item 330600, $1.75 IRC, to fill orders until the new IRCs are printed and available.

Post Offices, Stations, and Branches

Until the IRCs valued at $1.85 are available, Post OfficesTM will use their existing supply of Item 330600, $1.75 IRC, to meet customer demand. In order to sell the IRC, additional postage must be added at the Post Office level by affixing a postage stamp. The sales associate will affix the additional postage at the time of the sale.

All Post Offices, stations, and branches, including POS ONE sites, will affix one 10-cent stamp to each $1.75 IRC at the time of sale to reflect the new rate of $1.85. The IRC, with the additional postage affixed, will sell for a total of $1.85 each.

When affixing the postage stamps, you must leave the bottom right corner of the IRC clear. This provides space for the foreign post that exchanges the coupon to cancel it.

If you need additional quantities of IRCs, order Item 330600 from your SDO or SSC. Use your existing inventory of Item 330600 until new IRCs are printed and available.

Post Offices must ensure that adequate supplies of 10-cent stamps, Item 108000, are on hand. No accounting entries are required for POS ONE, the integrated retail terminal, or other financial reporting technologies to adjust the value of IRCs in inventory.

— Revenue and Field Accounting,
Finance, 12-22-05

NOTICE

Household Diary Study

The Postal Service'sTM Household Diary Study (HDS), conducted since 1987, provides information about the contents of the mail sent and received by U.S. households. The Postal Service uses this information to help understand why and how customers use the mail. The results are used to:

• Forecast mail volume.

• Plan marketing strategies.

• Provide information for rate-setting purposes.

The HDS is administered at Headquarters by the Office of Demand Forecasting and Economic Analysis, Finance. NuStats, the HDS survey research firm contractor since July 1999, conducts the interviews and collects and analyzes the HDS data throughout the year.

HDS is a two-stage survey. Stage 1 is the Household Interview. NuStats sends an advance letter, signed by the postmaster general, to a representative sample of U.S. households. This letter emphasizes the importance of the HDS and asks for participation. These sample households are contacted either by telephone or in person and asked about the mail they send and receive, their adoption and use of various communications' technologies, their attitudes about mail service in general, and information relating to their household and personal demographics. Those respondent households are recruited to participate in HDS Stage 2.

Stage 2 is the Mail Diary. NuStats asks households that agree to participate in Stage 2 to record information about the mail they send and receive for a 7-day period from Monday to Sunday. Information recorded includes number of mailpieces received and sent, industry mail source, mail characteristics, and attitudes regarding mail received. As an incentive for HDS Stage 2 participation, households are offered the options of receiving $30 or a roll of 100 First- Class Mail® stamps.

Customers who participate in Stage 2 of the HDS can expect to receive their incentive about 2 months after they return the diary packet to NuStats.

Data gathered in both HDS stages is available in a final report, The Household Diary Study - Mail Use and Attitudes. The report is published in hard copy and a free electronic file. Order forms for the latest HDS report may be obtained via the Postal Service Internet at www.usps.com/householddiary.

For additional information, contact either of the following individuals:

John Pickett
Telephone: 202-268-2641
Fax: 202-268-6841
E-mail john.pickett@usps.gov

John Mazzone
Telephone: 202-268-4169
Fax: 202-268-6841
E-mail john.f.mazzone@usps.gov

Study participants may also contact NuStats directly for help or information at 888-441-8777 or usps@nustats.com.

— Office of Demand Forecasting and Economic Analysis,
Finance, 12-22-05

NOTICE

Instructions for All Daily Financial Reporting Offices

The Postal Service'sTM new rates and fees become effective at 12:01 A.M. on Sunday, January 8, 2006. All Post OfficesTM, postal retail units, and contract postal units (CPUs) must ensure that all daily financial reports are transmitted at the close of business on Saturday, January 7, 2006. CPUs must coordinate the logistics to ensure that all daily financial reports are submitted to the host Post Office at the close of business on Saturday, January 7, 2006.

IRT Offices

Post Offices, postal retail units, and CPUs with integrated retail terminals (IRTs) will receive rate change diskettes in the same manner as all other IRT software updates. Each office must install the IRT update after the close of business on Saturday, January 7, 2006, or before opening for business on or after Sunday, January 8, 2006. Offices that do not receive diskettes with the new rates and fees by Thursday, January 5, 2006, must contact their district IRT coordinator for guidance.

POS ONE Offices

Post Offices and postal retail units with POS ONE IBM and POS ONE NCR will receive the new software for the rate change via a download over the network. Offices must download the new software for the rate change before they open for business on Sunday, January 8, 2006.

Payments Mailed Before Rate Change

The new postal rates and fees will affect permit account annual fees, accounting fees, and Post Office (P.O.) box fees. As of January 8, 2006, all daily financial reports must contain the new fees. If a payment for a permit account annual fee, accounting fee, or P.O. box fee is mailed before January 8, 2006, with the old fees, accept the lower fee amount and process the transaction as follows:

Note: Do not process payments that are mailed after January 8, 2006, with the old fees; return the payment to the sender.

— Revenue and Field Accounting,
Finance, 12-22-05

NOTICE

Revised PS Form 1608, Emergency Salary Authorization

Effective January 1, 2006, Post OfficesTM and postal retail units must begin using the December 2005 edition of PS Form 1608, Emergency Salary Authorization. The previous edition of PS Form 1608 is obsolete and must be disposed of properly. The revised PS Form 1608 may be used to issue emergency salary to employees only in the following circumstances:

1. An employee does not receive a scheduled payroll check.

2. A rural carrier payroll check is less than amount due.

If an employee did not receive his or her scheduled payroll check, emergency salary may be issued as follows:

1. The postmaster, manager, or supervisor completes PS Form 1608 (December 2005 version).

2. The employee signs and submits the completed and authorized PS Form 1608 to a Post Office or retail unit.

3. The retail associate issues a no-fee postal money order to the employee for the amount authorized and enters the money order number on PS Form 1608.

4. The retail associate records the amount issued into AIC 754, Authorized Emergency Salary Issued, on PS Form 1412, Daily Financial Report.

If a rural carrier payroll check is substantially less than the amount due, emergency salary may be issued as follows:

1. The postmaster, manager, or supervisor completes a PS Form 2240-R, Rural Pay or Leave Adjustment Request, and a PS Form 1608 (December 2005 version).

2. The rural carrier signs and submits the completed and authorized PS Form 2240-R and PS Form 1608 to a Post Office or retail unit.

3. The retail associate issues a no-fee postal money order for the amount authorized and enters the money order number on the form.

4. The retail associate records the amount issued into AIC 554, Payroll Adjustment Emergency Salary Issued, on PS Form 1412.

For guidelines on issuing emergency salary, see Postal Bulletin 22168 (11-24-05, pages 11-16) article "Postmaster/Field Guide Revision: Employee Emergency Salary Issued Process."

Ordering PS Form 1608

Offices may order PS Form 1608 from the Material Distribution Center and use 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.)

Use the following ordering information to order the December 2005 edition of PS Form 1608:

PSIN: 7530-01-000-9371
PSN: PS1608
Unit of Measure: SH
Minimum Order Quantity: 1
Quick Pick Number: 134
Bulk Pack Quantity: N/A
Price: $0.0059

The December 2005 edition of PS Form 1608 is shown on page 4. The form is also available on the Postal Service Intranet:

• Go to blue.usps.gov.

• Under "Essential Links," click on Forms.

(The direct URL for the Forms Web site is http://blue.usps.gov/formmgmt/forms.htm.)

— Revenue and Field Accounting,
Finance, 12-22-05

NOTICE

Stamp Stock Limits Suspended Temporarily Due to New Rates

Effective December 1, 2005, through March 31, 2006, the 3-month stamp stock limit is temporarily suspended for Post OfficesTM and retail postal units due to the new rates effective January 8, 2006.

A list of stamp stock items to be withdrawn from regular sale effective close-of-business March 31, 2006, will be published in a future Postal Bulletin. Post Offices and retail postal units will be directed to:

• Withdraw the stamp stock items from sale.

• Prepare these items for destruction.

• Submit items to destruction sites according to locally established procedures.

• Follow guidelines in Handbook F-1, Post Office Accounting Procedures, Subchapter 45, Destroying Stamp Stock.

Effective April 1, 2006, Post Offices and retail postal units must adhere to the existing policy for 3-month stamp stock limits. For more information, refer to Postal Bulletin 22148 (2-17-05, pages 25-26) or Handbook F-1, sections 422.21 and 482.3.

— Revenue and Field Accounting,
Finance, 12-22-05

REMINDER

Year-End 1099 Reporting

All offices are reminded to complete and submit PS Form 8231, Vendor Payment 1099 Reporting Form, to the Scanning and Imaging Center on the same day that the payment is made to the supplier. PS Form 8231 is used to document emergency and one-time payments made to suppliers via cash or money order for services that may be reportable on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1099. The deadline for submitting these forms for all payments made in calendar year 2005 is Friday, January 6, 2006. Compliance with this deadline will ensure that the payments will be included on the suppliers' IRS Form 1099 and on the reports provided to the IRS.

Reporting of payments made to suppliers by local offices is required by federal law and is not optional. This includes payments for services provided by individuals, proprietorships, or corporations, and includes one-time, non-recurring, and emergency cleaning services. Payments made by an accounting service center and payments made exclusively for supplies or parts are not 1099-reportable, and therefore not recorded on PS Form 8231.

— Accounting,
Finance, 12-22-05

NOTICE

2005 Tax Information

Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement

Current Mailing Address

To facilitate processing of 2005 tax information and to ensure correct and timely receipt of a 2005 Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, all employees must have a current mailing address on file at their local personnel office. Current employees can use Employee Self Service via the Postal ServiceTM Intranet, or current and former employees may submit PS Form 1216, Employee's Current Mailing Address, to their local personnel office. Employees without access to the intranet may update their mailing address by using the Web Job Bidding machines or personnel central kiosks, where available. All Form W-2s are sent to the address on file at the time of printing and will not be forwarded.

General W-2 Information

If an employee has earnings for more than one state or locality, then a separate Form W-2 will be issued for each state. The format of the 2005 Form W-2 has not been modified from the 2004 version. All box numbers remain the same as the 2004 form.

See pages 6 and 7 for an example of the 2005 Form W-2.

Inquiries

Employees may direct all inquiries concerning payroll items, such as employee business expense, equipment maintenance, rent, T-Cola, money differences between earnings statement and W-2, (see Reconciliation Formula on Form W-2) leave buy backs, erroneous state or local tax deductions, TSP, FSA, etc., to the Accounting Help Desk at 866-974-2733. Callers should be ready to provide the following information:

1. Employee's name.

2. Current mailing address.

3. Social Security number (SSN).

4. Name of office where employed (or previously employed if you are not currently a Postal Service employee).

5. Year(s) involved.

6. Specific question.

Employees may also submit questions regarding W-2s in writing. The request must include the following information:

1. Employee's name.

2. Current mailing address.

3. SSN.

4. Name of office where employed (or where previously employed if not a current Postal Service employee).

5. Year(s) involved.

6. Specific question.

7. Employee's signature.

General Information

Imputed Income Life Insurance

The imputed income life insurance amount shown in Box 35 of the 2005 W-2 form is the net result of the IRS computation for taxable insurance benefits less the amount an employee pays for optional insurance in the calendar year.

The IRS requires that the Postal Service report as income the cost of Group Term Life Insurance in excess of $50,000, which is paid by the employer. The formula is based on an employee's age, salary, and life insurance coverage.

Thrift Savings Plan

The following facts will clarify some of the common tax questions regarding the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP):

1. Box 12a or 12b, See Instructions for Box 12, may contain employee TSP contributions including TSP catch up.

2. TSP contributions are reported in Box 12a or 12b with a code "D". Letter code "D" is explained on the reverse side of Form W-2 under "Notice to Employee."

3. Box 1, Wages, tips, other compensation, has been reduced by the amount of the employee's TSP contributions shown in Box 12a or 12b.

4. Box 16, State wages, tips, etc., has been reduced by the amount of employee TSP contributions in Box 12a or 12b for all states, except New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico.

5. New York City, NY; Kansas City, MO; Detroit, MI; St. Louis, MO; and Madison County, KY, are the only localities that allow income deferral for TSP. Box 18, Local wages, tips, etc., will be reduced by the amount of employee TSP contributions only if New York City, NY; Kansas City, MO; Detroit, MI; St. Louis, MO; or Madison County, KY, is indicated in Box 20, Locality name.

Employee Business Expense

Equipment maintenance allowance (EMA), carrier drive- out, vehicle hire, supervisor vehicle usage, and special delivery are all considered employee expenses. Box 32, Employee business expense (EBE), will contain the non- taxable (not the total) EBE amount, while Box 33, Taxable employee business expense, will contain the taxable EBE amount. The taxable amount shown in Box 33 will also be included in Box 1, Wages, tips, other compensation.

Flexible Spending Account

The amount contributed to an employee's flexible spending account (FSA) for health care is included in Box 40, FSA health care, and the amount contributed to dependent care will be included in Box 10, FSA dependent care benefits. Both amounts have been deducted from Box 1.

Health Benefit Pre-Tax

The amount that an employee contributed for health benefit premiums is considered pre-tax unless the employee declined the pre-tax benefit. The health benefit pre- tax amount is shown in Box 37, Pre-tax health benefits, and has been deducted from Box 1.

Commuter Program

The amount contributed for the commuter program (Box 41) is considered pre-tax for 2005 up to the IRS $105 monthly limit for public transportation or the IRS $200 monthly limit for parking and has been deducted from Box 1.

Effective January 1, 2006, the parking pre-tax spending limit will increase from $200 to $205. This increase can affect the deductions for November 2005, which are for the January 2006 benefit month. Any commuting expenses that are elected above the IRS limits will be considered post-tax.

State/Terr. Gross Wages

The amount in Box 16, State wages, tips, etc., will equal Box 1 with the following exceptions:

1. Mississippi does not allow income deferral for pre-tax commuter program public transportation and parking.

2. Massachusetts does not allow income deferral for pre-tax public transportation.

3. New Jersey and Puerto Rico do not allow income deferral. Therefore, the employee TSP, FSA, and health benefits pre-tax contributions are not deducted from their state gross.

4. Pennsylvania is the only state that does not require the imputed income life Insurance to be added into the state gross.

Annuity Protection Program

Form W-2s are issued to former employees who receive payments from the Postal Service under the Annuity Protection Program (APP). Any questions regarding these Form W-2s should be directed to:

PAYROLL BENEFITS BRANCH
EAGAN ACCOUNTING SERVICE CENTER
2825 LONE OAK PKWY
EAGAN MN 55121-9621

Relocation Payments

Relocation wages are reported in Box 39, Relocation gross, on the Form W-2.

Relocation gross is reduced by the excludable reportable amount reported in Box 12a or 12b before it is added to Box 1.

Excludable reportable wages are reported in Box 12a or 12b with a code "P". Letter code "P" is explained on the reverse side of Form W-2.

Obtaining Duplicate Forms

PostalEASE

Employees may use PostalEASE "W-2 Reprint" for information viewing and/or printing. You may request any of the prior 15 years including current year to be reprinted on an official document and mailed.

The W-2 reprint process is performed weekly. During the months of March and April, the W-2 reprint process is scheduled to execute daily. During pay periods 01-03 (approximately mid-December through end of January), the W-2 request for mailing process will not be available. However, viewing of current information is available online.

Eagan Accounting Service Center Help Desk

To obtain duplicate forms, employees may also call the Accounting Help Desk (866-974-2733). All requests must include:

1. Employee's name.

2. Current mailing address.

3. SSN.

4. Name of office where employed (or where previously employed if not a current Postal Service employee).

5. Year(s) requested.

If you are unsuccessful requesting duplicate W-2s from the Accounting Help Desk or Employee Self Service, send your request in writing to the following address:

FINANCIAL REPORTING SECTION W-2S
EAGAN ACCOUNTING SERVICE CENTER
2825 LONE OAK PKWY
EAGAN MN 55121-9617

Requests must include the employee's signature.

Form W-2c, Corrected Wage and Tax Statement

General W-2c Information

Form W-2c is used by the Postal Service to correct errors previously filed on a Form W-2. The Form W-2c will only report the corrections and should be used in conjunction with the original Form W-2 issued when filing taxes and/or other related information.

Requesting a W-2c

All requests for a corrected W-2c must be submitted in writing. The request must include the following:

1. Employee's name.

2. Current mailing address.

3. SSN.

4. Name of office where employed (or where previously employed if not a current Postal Service employee).

5. Year(s) requested.

6. Reason for request.

7. Employee's signature.

Obtaining Duplicate W-2c Forms

All requests for a duplicate W-2c must be submitted in writing. The request must include the following:

1. Employee's name.

2. Current mailing address.

3. SSN.

4. Name of office where employed (or where previously employed if not a current Postal Service employee).

5. Year(s) request.

6. Employee's signature.

Submit your questions or requests for duplicate copies of Form W-2c (1991 to the present) in writing to the following address:

FINANCIAL REPORTING SECTION W-2C
EAGAN ACCOUNTING SERVICE CENTER
2825 LONE OAK PKWY
EAGAN MN 55121-9617

IRS Form 1099

Depending on your specific circumstances, up to three different IRS Form 1099s may be issued to you:

1. IRS Form 1099MISC, Statement for Recipients of Miscellaneous Income.

2. IRS Form 1099R, Distributions from Pensions, Annuities, Retirement, or Profit Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc.

3. IRS Form 1099INT, Interest Income.

All three accounting service centers (ASCs) mail out IRS Form 1099. Please determine the nature of the payments and contact the appropriate ASC.

Form 1099R

This year, both the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Eagan Accounting Service Center are sending out Form 1099Rs. The Eagan ASC will mail annuity protection checks, and OPM will mail monthly annuity checks. The originating agency will be listed on Form 1099R. Try to determine which agency made the payments before you inquire about your form.

Form 1099INT

The use of this form is to report interest payments that were the result of employment-related back-pay awards. Submit your questions or requests for duplicate copies of Form 1099INT in writing to the following address:

FINANCIAL PROCESSING SECTION
EAGAN ACCOUNTING SERVICE CENTER
2825 LONE OAK PKWY
EAGAN MN 55121-9616

Provide your name, SSN, and, if known, the date of the payment.

— Payroll,
Finance, 12-22-05

NOTICE

Revaluation of Nonprofit and Bulk-Rate Stamped Envelopes

Effective January 8, 2006, the discount on the sale of a full box of 500 envelopes will be $25.00 for #10 envelopes and $27.00 for #6 3/4 envelopes.

Nonprofit and bulk-rate envelopes are recorded in inventory at the discounted value (box price); therefore, they must be revalued. Other stamped envelopes will not be revalued.

To increase the value of Nonprofit and bulk-rate stamped envelopes, stock custodians and retail associates (RAs) must count the number of boxes of those envelopes in their credits and multiply by $1.00 to compute the dollar value of the increase in accountability.

Stamped Envelopes Affected

IRT Offices

1. Stamp Credits. RAs and contractors will multiply the number of boxes of Nonprofit and bulk-rate stamped envelopes on hand by the $1.00 increase amount (see table above) and record the total on PS Form 17, Stamp Requisition/Stamp Return. Enter the total from PS Form 17 to AIC 844, Stock Increase- Revaluation, on the clerk disk.

2. Closeout Instructions. When all clerk disks are consolidated, the total revaluation for the unit will be the total amount in AIC 844 on the unit's PS Form 1412, Daily Financial Report.

IRT Unit Reserve

Offices with boxes of Nonprofit and bulk-rate stamped envelopes in unit reserve inventory must increase their accountability following these instructions:

1. The stock custodian issues to retail associates (RAs) all boxes of Nonprofit and bulk-rate stamped envelopes in unit reserve.

2. RAs receive the stock by using the "STAMPS+" key, creating an entry to AIC 841, Stock Received.

3. RAs revalue the stock by following the revaluation instructions.

4. After the stock custodian reduces unit inventory quantities of all Nonprofit and bulk rate envelopes to zero (by issuance to an RA) and has performed the "New Day" process, the stock custodian deletes the item numbers for Nonprofit and bulk-rate stamped envelopes from stamp stock inventory (at the old price).

5. The stock custodian adds the item numbers for Nonprofit and bulk-rate stamped envelopes to stamp stock inventory at the new price.

6. RAs prepare PS Form 17 for returning stock and enter the value of the boxes of Nonprofit and bulk-rate stamped envelopes to be returned to unit reserve inventory at the new price.

7. RAs enter information to AIC 848, Stamps Return, by using the "STAMPS-" key.

8. The stock custodian enters the envelopes into unit reserve inventory at the new price.

SPORT and EMOVES Offices

1. Stamp Credits. RAs and contractors will multiply the number of boxes of Nonprofit and bulk-rate stamped envelopes on hand by the $1.00 increase amount (see table on page 14) and record the total on PS Form 17. The RA must enter the total from PS Form 17 to AIC 844, Stock Increase-Revaluation, on the clerk's PS Form 1412.

2. Unit Reserve Inventory.

a. Multiply the number of boxes of Nonprofit and bulk-rate stamped envelopes on hand by the $1.00 increase amount (see table on page 14) and record the total on PS Form 17.

b. Enter the amount on PS Form 3958, Main Stock (or Unit Reserve Stock) Transaction Record, on line 3 (blank) and write in "Revaluation-Stock Increase."

3. Reserve Stock Units.

a. Enter the total from PS Form 17 (for reserve stock) for revalued boxes of Nonprofit and bulk- rate stamped envelopes to PS Form 1412, AIC 844, Stock Increase-Revaluation.

b. Add all PS Forms 17 (for RAs and unit reserve inventory) and verify with PS Form 1412, AIC 844. Support entry with PS Forms 17 and copy of PS Form 3958. These increases in accountability must be reported in Small Post Office Reporting Tool (SPORT) or Electronic Money Order Voucher Entry System (EMOVES) after the close of business on January 7, 2006.

c. On or after January 8, 2006, the revalued boxes of Nonprofit and bulk-rate stamped envelopes will be sold at the new discounted box prices.

POS ONE Offices

IBM

A message display will state that the stock unit contains items pending revaluation. Complete the revaluation process as follows:

1. The "retail stock unit" for the retail floor stock under Segmented Inventory Accountability (SIA).

2. The "stampstock stock unit" for the unit reserve.

3. (RAs with assigned stamp credits (this includes the segments with individual accountability, e.g., Stamps by Mail®, Stamps on Consignment, Mobile Unit, Philatelic, and Vending at SIA sites). The revaluation process must be completed within 3 calendar days. After physically counting the number of revalued items from the floor stock inventory or stamp stock, RAs and reserve stock custodians will follow the same steps, listed below, to complete the process:

a. Print a Trial 1412.

b. Select the following: <Back Office>, <Till>, <Stock Unit Revalue>, and then <Enter>.

c. Enter manager override, if necessary, and then select <Enter>, <OK>. The following message appears: "The revaluation process may be performed only one time. Please ensure ALL revaluation items are entered before completing the process."

d. Select <OK>.

e. Select <F8> Select Printer, and touch the Printer selection field.

f. Select <F4>, <Receipt>, <Enter>, <F11>, and then <F3>.

g. Enter the actual quantities of items (number of boxes) on the printed count sheet.

h. Enter the quantity (number of boxes) of each revalued item from the count sheet, and select <F11>.

i. Enter the Verifier Name (manager) and ID (optional), and select <F11>. The Revaluation Summary Report prints.

j. Verify the quantities and total revaluation amount printed below the header information on the Revaluation Summary Report. Compare the total revaluation amount to a manual calculation. Message appears again: "The revaluation process may be performed only one time. Please ensure ALL revaluation items are entered before completing the process."

k. Select <Yes> to complete revaluation, or select <No> to reprint the report, or select <Cancel> to restart the revaluation.

l. Select <Yes>, <Main Tasks>.

m. Print another Trial 1412

NCR

A message display will state that the stock unit contains items pending revaluation. The revaluation process must be completed by either an RA who is assigned to a multi- service role working from the retail floor stock under SIA or an RA with assigned stamp credits.

The revaluation procedures are as follows:

1. Physically count the number of boxes of the revalued items in the floor stock or stamp stock.

2. Go to the NCR terminal and press <Clerk Services\Back Office>.

3. Press <Money and Accounts>.

4. Press <Stock Revaluation>.

5. Press <Select All>. Check marks appear on all the items in the notebook area pick list. The user can also select one item at a time by pressing the <Select Item> DynaKey.

6. Press <Continue>.

7. Press <Continue>.The system will print a Stock Revaluation count sheet for all items that were previously checked. Use this printout to record the physical count.

8. Key in the quantity (number of boxes) counted for each item and press <Enter>.

9. Press <Continue>. If the wrong quantity was entered, press the <Change Quantity> DynaKey to return to the item list and make corrections.

10. Press <Continue>.

11. Type in the first name, last name, and employee ID.

12. Press <Continue>. A summary view will be displayed of the change made to the user's accountability.

13. Press <Accept> to finish.

14. The system displays the following message:

"Did report print successfully?
If not <Re-print Report>.
Then select <Print Successful & Accept> to finish revaluation."

15. If the report prints successfully, then press the <Print Successful & Accept> DynaKey to complete the process.

Unit reserve stock custodians must use the following procedures:

1. Log on as stock custodian.

2. Press <Non-Retail Roles>.

3. Press <Other Activities>.

4. Press <Unit Stock Revaluation>.

5. Press <Select All>. Check marks appear on all the items in the notebook area pick list. The user can also select one item at a time by pressing the <Select Item> DynaKey.

6. Press <Continue>.

7. Press <Continue>. The system will print a Stock Revaluation count sheet for all items that were previously checked. Use this printout to record the physical count.

8. Key in the quantity (number of boxes) counted for each item and press <Enter>.

9. Press <Continue>. If the wrong quantity was entered, press the <Change Quantity> DynaKey to return to the item list and make corrections.

10. Press <Continue>.

11. Type in your first name, last name, and employee ID.

12. Press <Continue>. A summary view will be displayed of the change made to the user's accountability.

13. Press <Accept> to finish.

14. The system displays the following message:

"Did report print successfully?
If not <Re-print Report>.
Then select <Print Successful & Accept> to finish revaluation."

15. If the report prints successfully, press the <Print Successful & Accept> DynaKey to complete the process.

Stamp Distribution Offices and Stamp Services Centers

Quantities of the Nonprofit and bulk-rate stamped envelopes in inventories at the stamp distribution offices (SDOs) and stamp services centers (SSCs) must be revalued to support the $1 increase in selling price per carton of 500. On January 9, 2006, Stamp Acquisition and Distribution, Headquarters, will electronically update the accountabilities of the SDOs and SSCs with the increased selling price.

Preparing for the Revaluation

To prepare for the electronic update of the stamped envelope accountability, all SDO and SSC supervisors must do the following:

1. Print PS Form 3958 for close-of-business January 7, 2006 (or the last day of business before January 9, 2006).

2. Print an inventory listing for close-of-business January 7 (or the last day of business before January 9, 2006).

3. Complete the check sheet (see below).

Important Notice for SDOs AND SSCs

Do not log on to the Stamp Services System (SSS) before 8:00 A.M. EST, on January 9, 2006.

Headquarters will electronically update the accountabilities of the SDOs and SSCs as follows:

1. On January 9, 2006, at 7:00 A.M. EST, the Stamp Services System (SSS) will be populated with the increased value of the listed stamped envelopes.

2. The Eagan Information Systems Service Center will recalculate the beginning vault balances before users are allowed into the SSS program on January 9, 2006.

3. The closing balance for the previous close-out date will not match the opening balance for January 9, 2006. The difference is the increase in value of the Nonprofit and bulk-rate stamped envelopes inventoried on the check sheet (see below).

Processing the Revaluation

SSS users may log on and begin processing after 8:00 A.M. EST on January 9, 2006.

1. Users must print a copy of their Vault Inventory Listing and verify the inventory values against the check sheet.

2. The PS Form 3958 that includes the accountability updates must be endorsed with the following information: The increase of $ _________________ represents the revaluation of the stamped envelopes.

3. Attach the check sheet to the current PS Form 3958 and file per normal procedures.

Revaluation of Nonprofit and Bulk-Rate Stamped Envelopes for the 2006 Rate Change Check Sheet

— Revenue and Field Accounting,
Finance, 12-22-05

Information Technology

REMINDER

ACE Refresh Postponed, ACE-Related Purchases Prohibited

During the planning process for fiscal year (FY) 2006, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) determined that the refresh of deployed Advanced Computing Environment (ACE) desktop and laptop computers that had been planned for this year will be postponed at least until next year.

In support of this strategy, which has been in effect since the start of FY2006, no organization is to independently procure ACE replacement workstations. Per the CFO, Information Technology (IT) will not honor requests to support or to "ACE" unauthorized desktops or laptops. See Management Instruction AS 820-2004-6, The Advanced Computing Environment, for additional information regarding ACE-related hardware, software, and procurement policy.

This IT strategy will save the organization many millions of dollars. Our workstation failure rate is low, and processes are in place to ensure employee computing needs are met. If an ACE-provided workstation does fail and is out of warranty, a replacement system will be provided. No ACE equipment will be replaced without IT approval in advance. Request workstation support by contacting the IT Help Desk at 800-USPS-HELP. When prompted, say "Workstation," and then "ACE."

— Technology Policy, Planning, and Communications,
Information Technology, 12-22-05