Domestic Mail

DMM REVISION

Sack Preparation Changes for Periodicals Mail

Effective May 11, 2006, the Postal ServiceTM adopts new mailing standards for Periodicals mail prepared in sacks. The standards include two new types of sacks - a 3-digit carrier routes sack and a merged 3-digit sack - and a new minimum of 24 pieces for most other sacks. The new standards encourage more efficient mail preparation, helping us reduce the costs of transporting and processing mail in sacks and, as a result, helping keep Periodicals rates reasonable.

New 3-Digit Carrier Routes Sack for Carrier Route Mailings

This sack contains pieces sorted to multiple carrier routes in a 3-digit area, consolidating the bundles formerly prepared in 5-digit carrier routes sacks containing fewer than 24 pieces.

• This new sack must contain a minimum of one six- piece carrier route bundle.

• This sack may contain additional carrier route bundles of fewer than six pieces when those pieces are paid at the basic rate.

New Merged 3-Digit Sack for Merged Mailings

This sack consolidates carrier route, automation, and presorted bundles formerly prepared in merged 5-digit sacks containing fewer than 24 pieces.

• Mailers must prepare this sack if they have one or more carrier route bundles for the 3-digit area once they have prepared all carrier route and merged 5-digit sacks containing 24 or more pieces.

• If a mailing does not include at least one carrier route bundle for the 3-digit area, the merged 3-digit sack must contain a minimum of 24 pieces prepared in 5-digit, 5-digit scheme, 3-digit, and 3-digit scheme bundles.

New 24-Piece Minimum

The following sacks must contain a minimum of 24 pieces:

• Carrier route sacks.

• 5-digit carrier routes sacks.

• 5-digit scheme carrier routes sacks.

• 5-digit sacks.

• 5-digit scheme sacks.

• Merged 5-digit sacks.

• Merged 5-digit scheme sacks.

• 3-digit sacks.

• 3-digit scheme sacks.

• SCF sacks.

• ADC sacks.

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

* * * * *

700 Special Standards

* * * * *

705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems

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9.0 Preparation for Cotraying and Cosacking Bundles of Automation and Presorted Flats

* * * * *

9.2 Periodicals

* * * * *

[Revise the title of 9.2.4 as follows:]

9.2.4 Bundles With Fewer Than Six Pieces

[Revise 9.2.4 by adding a reference to 24 pieces as follows:]

5-digit and 3-digit bundles prepared under 707.22.0 and 707.25.0 or under 9.2.3 may contain fewer than six pieces when the publisher determines that such preparation improves service. These low-volume bundles may be placed in 5-digit, 3-digit, and SCF sacks that contain at least 24 pieces or on 5-digit, 3-digit, or SCF pallets. Pieces in low- volume bundles must claim the applicable basic Presorted or automation rate, except for firm bundles at Presorted rates under 707.22.3.

* * * * *

10.0 Preparation for Merged Containerization of Bundles of Flats Using City State Product

10.1 Periodicals

* * * * *

[Revise the title of 10.1.3 as follows:]

10.1.3 Bundles With Fewer Than Six Pieces

[Revise 10.1.3 by restructuring the section for clarity and adding references to 24 pieces and merged 3-digit sacks as follows:]

Carrier route, 5-digit scheme, 5-digit, 3-digit scheme, and 3-digit bundles may contain fewer than six pieces when the publisher determines that such preparation improves service. Pieces in these low-volume bundles must be claimed at the basic rate. Low-volume bundles are permitted only when they are sacked or prepared on pallets as follows:

a. Place low-volume carrier route, 5-digit, 3-digit scheme, and 3-digit bundles in only the following containers:

1. Carrier route, merged 5-digit scheme, 5-digit scheme carrier routes, merged 5-digit, 5-digit carrier routes, 5-digit, 3-digit, and SCF sacks that contain at least 24 pieces;

2. Merged 3-digit sacks that contain at least one six- piece carrier route bundle;

3. Origin/entry SCF sacks; or

4. On merged 5-digit scheme, 5-digit scheme carrier routes, 5-digit scheme, merged 5-digit, 5-digit carrier routes, 5-digit, 5-digit metro, 3-digit, or SCF pallets, as appropriate.

b. Place low-volume 5-digit scheme bundles in only 5-digit scheme, 3-digit, and SCF sacks that contain at least 24 pieces, or in origin/entry SCF sacks, or on 3-digit or SCF pallets, as appropriate.

* * * * *

10.1.4 Sack Preparation and Labeling

[Revise 10.1.4 by adding a reference to 10.1.4h in the introductory paragraph, revising items b through g, adding new item h for merged 3-digit sacks, and revising and renumbering current item h as new item i, as follows:]

Mailers must prepare sacks containing the individual carrier route and 5-digit bundles from the carrier route, automation, and Presorted rate mailings in the mailing job in the following manner and sequence. All carrier route bundles must be placed in sacks under 10.1.4a through 10.1.4e and 10.1.4h as described below.***

* * * * *

b. Merged 5-digit scheme, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted. Must contain at least one 5-digit ZIP Code in the scheme with an "A" or "C" indicator in the City State Product. May contain carrier route bundles for any 5-digit ZIP Code(s) in a single scheme listed in L001 as well as automation rate 5-digit bundles and Presorted rate 5-digit bundles for those 5-digit ZIP Codes in the schemes that have an "A" or "C" indicator in the City State Product. For 5-digit ZIP Code(s) in a scheme that has a "B" or "D" indicator in the City State Product, prepare sack(s) of automation rate and Presorted rate bundles under 10.1.4g and 10.1.4h. For 5-digit ZIP Codes not included in a scheme, prepare sacks under 10.1.4d through 10.1.4h.

1. Line 1: use L001, Column B.

2. Line 2: "PER" or "NEWS" as applicable, followed by "FLTS" or "IRREG" as applicable, followed by "CR/5D SCH."

c. 5-digit scheme carrier routes, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted. May contain only carrier route bundles for 5-digit ZIP Code(s) in a single scheme listed in L001 when all the 5-digits in the scheme have a "B" or "D" indicator in the City State Product. Mailers must prepare this sack if there are any carrier route bundle(s) for such a scheme.

1. Line 1: use L001, Column B.

2. Line 2: "PER" or "NEWS" as applicable, followed by "FLTS" or "IRREG" as applicable, followed by "CR-RTS SCH."

d. Merged 5-digit, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted. Must be prepared only for those 5-digit ZIP Codes that are not part of a scheme and that have an "A" or "C" indicator in the City State Product. May contain carrier route bundles, automation rate 5-digit bundles, and Presorted rate 5-digit bundles.

1. Line 1: use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code destination (see 707.21.1.2 for military mail).

2. Line 2: "PER" or "NEWS" as applicable, followed by "FLTS" or "IRREG" as applicable, followed by "CR/5D."

e. 5-digit carrier routes, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted. Include only carrier route bundles for a 5-digit ZIP Code remaining after preparing sacks under 10.1.4a through 10.1.4d. May contain only carrier route bundles for any 5-digit ZIP Code that is not part of a scheme listed in L001 and that has a "B" or "D" indicator in the City State Product.

1. Line 1: use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code destination (see 707.21.1.2 for military mail).

2. Line 2: "PER" or "NEWS" as applicable, followed by "FLTS" or "IRREG" as applicable, followed by "CR-RTS."

f. 5-digit scheme, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted. May contain only automation rate and cobundled automation and Presorted rate 5-digit scheme bundles for the same 5-digit scheme destination.

1. Line 1: L007, Column B.

2. Line 2: "PER" or "NEWS" as applicable, followed by "FLTS 5D SCH BC."

g. 5-digit, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted. May contain only automation rate 5-digit bundles and Presorted rate 5-digit bundles for the same 5-digit ZIP Code for any 5-digit ZIP Code that has a "B" or "D" indicator in the City State Product.

1. Line 1: use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code destination (see 707.21.1.2 for military mail).

2. Line 2: "PER" or "NEWS" as applicable, followed by "FLTS 5D BC/NBC," except if there are no automation rate bundles in the mailing job, label under 707.22.6.

h. Merged 3-digit. May contain carrier route bundles, any 5-digit and 5-digit scheme bundles remaining after preparing sacks under 10.1.4a through 10.1.4g, and any 3-digit and 3-digit scheme bundles. When preparation of this sack level is permitted, mailers must prepare a sack if there are any remaining carrier route bundles for the 3-digit area. Required with at least one six-piece carrier route bundle. Must contain at least one carrier route bundle for the 3-digit area, or a minimum of 24 pieces.

1. Line 1: use L002, Column A.

2. Line 2: "PER" or "NEWS" as applicable, followed by "FLTS" or "IRREG" as applicable, followed by "BC/NBC," except if there are no automation rate bundles in the mailing job, label under 707.22.6.

i. SCF through mixed ADC. Any 5-digit scheme and 5-digit bundles remaining after preparing sacks under 10.1.4a through 10.1.4h and all 3-digit, 3-digit scheme, ADC, and mixed ADC bundles must be sacked and labeled under 9.2 for cosacking of automation rate and Presorted rate bundles, except if there are no automation rate bundles in the mailing job, sack and label under 707.22.6, or if there are no Presorted rate bundles in the mailing job, sack and label under 707.25.3.

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11.0 Preparation of Cobundled Automation Rate and Presorted Rate Flats

* * * * *

11.2 Periodicals

* * * * *

[Revise the title of 11.2.3 as follows:]

11.2.3 Bundles With Fewer Than Six Pieces

[Revise 11.2.3 to add a reference to 24 pieces as follows:]

5-digit scheme, 5-digit, 3-digit scheme, and 3-digit bundles may contain fewer than six pieces when the publisher determines that such preparation improves service. Pieces in these low-volume bundles must be claimed at the basic rate. Low-volume bundles are permitted only when they are sacked or prepared on pallets as follows:

a. Place low-volume 5-digit and 3-digit bundles in only 5-digit scheme, 5-digit, 3-digit, and SCF sacks that contain at least 24 pieces; or in origin/entry SCF sacks; or on merged 5-digit scheme, 5-digit scheme, merged 5-digit, 5-digit, 5-digit metro, 3-digit, or SCF pallets, as appropriate.

b. Place low-volume 5-digit scheme and 3-digit scheme bundles in only 5-digit scheme, 3-digit, and SCF sacks that contain at least 24 pieces, or in origin/entry SCF sacks, or on 3-digit or SCF pallets, as appropriate.

* * * * *

707 Periodicals

* * * * *

13.0 Carrier Route Rate Eligibility

* * * * *

13.2 Sortation

13.2.1 Sequencing

* * * * *

[Revise item b2 by adding "3-digit carrier routes sacks" as follows:]

2. Bundles in carrier route, 5-digit scheme carrier routes, 5-digit carrier routes sacks, or 3-digit carrier routes sacks under 23.0. Sacks may be palletized under 705.8.0.

* * * * *

22.0 Preparation of Presorted Periodicals

* * * * *

[Revise the title of 22.4 as follows:]

22.4 Bundles With Fewer Than Six Pieces

[Revise 22.4 for clarity and to add reference to 24 pieces as follows:]

Nonletter-size Periodicals may be prepared in 5-digit and 3-digit bundles containing fewer than six pieces when the publisher determines that such preparation improves service. Pieces in these low-volume bundles must be claimed at the basic rate. Low-volume bundles are permitted only when they are sacked or prepared on pallets as follows:

a. Place bundles in only 5-digit, 3-digit, and SCF sacks that contain at least 24 pieces, or in origin/entry SCF sacks, as appropriate.

b. Place bundles on only merged 5-digit scheme, 5-digit scheme, merged 5-digit, 5-digit, 5-digit metro, 3-digit, and SCF pallets.

* * * * *

22.6 Sack Preparation - Flat-Size Pieces and Irregular Parcels

* * * * *

[Revise items a, b, c, and e to amend sack minimum requirements as follows:]

a. 5-digit, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted.

* * * * *

b. 3-digit, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted.

* * * * *

c. SCF, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted.

* * * * *

e. ADC, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted.

* * * * *

23.0 Preparation of Carrier Route Periodicals

* * * * *

23.4 Preparation - Flat-Size Pieces and Irregular Parcels

23.4.1 Sacking and Labeling

[Revise 23.4.1 by adding new item d for 3-digit carrier routes sacks and adding 24-piece minimums to all other sack levels as follows:]

Preparation sequence, sack size, and labeling:

a. Carrier route, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted.

* * * * *

b. 5-digit scheme carrier routes, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted.

* * * * *

c. 5-digit carrier routes, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted.

* * * * *

d. 3-digit carrier routes, optional with one six-piece bundle.

1. Line 1: use the city, state, and ZIP Code shown in L002, Column A, that corresponds to the 3-digit ZIP Code prefix of bundles.

2. Line 2: "PER" or "NEWS" as applicable, followed by "FLTS 3D" or "IRREG 3D" as applicable, followed by "CR-RTS."

* * * * *

[Revise 23.6 by revising the title, restructuring the text for clarity, deleting "merged 5-digit scheme" and "merged 5-digit" in item a, and adding a reference to 24 pieces, as follows:]

23.6 Bundles With Fewer Than Six Pieces

Nonletter-size Periodicals may be prepared in carrier route bundles containing fewer than six pieces when the publisher determines that such preparation improves service. Pieces in these low-volume bundles must be claimed at the basic rate. Low-volume carrier route bundles are permitted only when they are sacked or prepared on pallets as follows:

a. Place bundles in only 5-digit scheme carrier routes and 5-digit carrier routes sacks that contain at least 24 pieces, or 3-digit carrier routes or merged 3-digit sacks that contain at least one six-piece carrier route bundle.

b. Place bundles on only merged 5-digit scheme, 5-digit scheme carrier routes, merged 5 digit, 5-digit carrier routes, 5-digit metro, 3-digit, and SCF pallets.

* * * * *

25.0 Preparation of Flat-Size Automation Periodicals

25.1 Basic Standards

* * * * *

[Revise title of 25.1.9 as follows:]

25.1.9 Bundles With Fewer Than Six Pieces

[Revise 25.1.9 for clarity and to add references to 24 pieces, as follows:]

5-digit scheme, 5-digit, 3-digit scheme, and 3-digit bundles may contain fewer than six pieces when the publisher determines that such preparation improves service. Pieces in bundles containing fewer than six pieces must be claimed at the basic rate. These low-volume bundles are permitted only when they are sacked or prepared on pallets under these conditions:

a. Place 5-digit and 3-digit bundles in only 5-digit scheme, 5-digit, 3-digit, and SCF sacks, as appropriate, that contain at least 24 pieces, or in merged 3-digit sacks that contain at least one six-piece carrier route bundle, or in origin/entry SCF sacks.

b. Place 5-digit and 3-digit bundles on only merged 5-digit scheme, 5-digit scheme, merged 5-digit, 5-digit, 5-digit metro, 3-digit, and SCF pallets, as appropriate.

c. Place 5-digit scheme and 3-digit scheme bundles in only 5-digit scheme, 3-digit, and SCF sacks, as appropriate, that contain at least 24 pieces, or in merged 3-digit sacks that contain at least one six- piece carrier route bundle, or in origin/entry SCF sacks.

d. Place 5-digit scheme and 3-digit scheme bundles on only 3-digit and SCF pallets, as appropriate.

* * * * *

25.3 Sacking and Labeling

* * * * *

[Revise items a through d and item f by amending sack minimum requirements as follows:]

a. 5-digit scheme, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted; may contain 5-digit scheme bundles only; labeling:

* * * * *

b. 5-digit, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted; labeling:

* * * * *

c. 3-digit, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted; labeling:

* * * * *

d. SCF, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted; labeling:

* * * * *

f. ADC, required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted; labeling:

* * * * *

708 Technical Specifications

* * * * *

6.0 Barcoding Standards for Container Labels

6.1 Basic Standards - Tray and Sack Labels

* * * * *

Exhibit 6.1.4 3-Digit Content Identifier Numbers

[Revise Exhibit 6.1.4 by changing the following 5-digit carrier route content identifiers and adding the following new 3-digit content identifier numbers:]

* * * * *

PERIODICALS (PER)

* * * * *

PER Flats - Carrier Route

* * * * *

PER Flats - Merged Carrier Route, Automation, and Presorted

* * * * *

PER Irregular Parcels - Merged Carrier Route and Presorted

* * * * *

PER Irregular Parcels - Carrier Route

* * * * *

PERIODICALS (NEWS)

* * * * *

NEWS Flats - Carrier Route

* * * * *

NEWS Flats - Merged Carrier Route, Automation, and Presorted

* * * * *

NEWS Irregular Parcels - Merged Carrier Route and Presorted

* * * * *

NEWS Irregular Parcels - Carrier Route

* * * * *

We will incorporate this revision into the May 11, 2006, update of the online DMM on Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com and into the next printed edition.

—Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 1-19-06

DMM REVISION

Products Mailable at Nonprofit Standard Mail Rates

Effective January 1, 2006, we revised section 703.1.6.11 of Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®). Under statutory restrictions in DMM 703, products that are mailed at the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates must meet at least one of three exceptions. A low-cost item is one of these exceptions under the Internal Revenue Code.

The value of a low-cost item - the actual cost to the authorized nonprofit organization - is determined each year by the Internal Revenue Service, based on cost of living. For 2006, the maximum value of a low-cost item has been adjusted from $8.30 to $8.60.

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

* * * * *

700 Special Standards

703 Nonprofit Standard Mail and Other Unique Eligibility

1.0 Nonprofit Standard Mail

* * * * *

1.6 Eligible and Ineligible Matter

* * * * *

1.6.11 Products Mailable at Nonprofit Standard Mail Rates

The following products are mailable at Nonprofit Standard Mail rates:

[Revise item a to reflect the change in the maximum allowed value of low cost items as follows:]

a. Low-cost items within the meaning of 26 USC 513(h)(2), Internal Revenue Code. At the beginning of each calendar year, the value of low-cost items is adjusted for cost of living. Effective January 1, 2006, the cost of such items cannot exceed $8.60. This cost is the cost to the authorized organization that mails the items or on whose behalf the items are mailed.

* * * * *

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

—Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 1-19-06

New Envelopes for U.S. Treasury Checks

Effective February 1, 2006, all U.S. Treasury checks issued by the Financial Management Service (FMS) through the Austin, TX, Philadelphia, PA, Kansas City, MO, and San Francisco, CA, financial centers will be mailed in white envelopes. These include all U.S. Treasury checks from the Internal Revenue Service, the Veterans Administration, Office of Personnel Management, and Railroad Retirement. Social Security Administration checks for the third of the month, and those dated the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month, will also be issued in white envelopes. There will be no change in the first of the month supplemental security income (SSI) checks which will remain in blue envelopes.

The identifier for the new envelope is that of a grey "USA" imprint to the right of the clear glassine address window on the front stretching around to the back. The new white envelope will replace the existing light brown envelope. A copy of this envelope is given on page 38.

FMS will continue to mail miscellaneous daily checks that will not have an identifier other than the Department of Treasury FMS return address on the front of the white check.

If you have any questions, contact your local Business Service Network (BSN) Office, or area Postal Delivery Alert System (PDAS) coordinator.

—Business Service Network Integration,
Customer Service, 1-19-06

PS Form 8125-C, Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Consolidated Verification and Clearance

We have revised PS Form 8125-C, Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Consolidated Verification and Clearance. PS Form 8125-C allows an individual mailer to report multiple PVDS mailings that are cleared at origin on the same day for entry at a single destination Postal ServiceTM facility on the same vehicle. An image of the revised PS Form 8125-C appears on page 13 in this issue of the Postal Bulletin.

The primary purpose of this revision is to add a block titled "FAST Scheduler ID" to correlate with implementation of the Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) system. Also, we have revised and renumbered the blocks on PS Form 8125-C to better correlate with the blocks on PS Form 8125, Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Verification and Clearance. (On the most current editions of both forms, "FAST Scheduler ID" is block 4.)

The revised edition of PS Form 8125-C is dated January 2006. The previous edition, dated August 2001, is currently still acceptable. Similarly, for PS Form 8125, the latest edition is October 2005, and the two previous editions, dated February 2005 and August 2005, are currently still acceptable. However, starting April 20, 2006, mailers must use only the most current editions of these forms - that is, the January 2006 edition of PS Form 8125-C, and the October 2005 edition of PS Form 8125 - and the Postal Service encourages mailers to use the most current editions of PS Forms 8125 and 8125-C immediately.

A mailer uses the Postal Service's PS Form 8125-C as a sample to create and format its own facsimile forms. For a facsimile PS Form 8125-C, a mailer does not have to include data fields that do not pertain to information relating to the PVDS (nor other extraneous information that appears on the Postal Service form). For example, a mailer may omit from its facsimile PS Form 8125-C the "Number of Pieces" and "Piece Weight" columns for mailings prepared in sacks, in trays, or on pallets if there is sufficient information for the origin Post OfficeTM and destination Postal Service facility to identify the mailings and to compare the information on the form with the physical mail. The mailer must report on PS Form 8125-C the number of pieces in each mailing if the mailings consist of individual mailpieces that are not prepared in containers (e.g., bedloaded parcels).

An image of the Postal Service's PS Form 8125-C is available on the Postal Service Internet:

• Go to www.usps.com.

• At the bottom of the page, click on Forms.

• Click on All Online PDF Forms in Numeric Order or on Plant Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) for Standard Mail Forms.

• Click on the link for PS Form 8125-C.

An image of the Postal Service's PS Form 8125-C is also available on the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site:

• Go to http://blue.usps.gov.

• Under "Essential Links" in the left-hand column, click on Forms.

• In the left column, browse by number or title to find the desired form.

(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.)

—Business Mail Acceptance,
Customer Service, 1-19-06