Effective June 21, 2007, we are revising Publication 205, Electronic Verification System Business and Technical Guide, sections 1-1, 1-4.3, 1-4.4, and 1-5 and Appendices A, C, and G to clarify policies concerning the following topics:
We will incorporate these revisions into the online version of Publication 205, which will contain classification requirements and changes for eVS implemented on May 14, 2007, with those of the R2006-1 Omnibus Rate Case. Other revisions to Publication 205 clarify business and technical requirements and represent responses to mailer and software developer inquiries and recommendations.
Most sampling done by Postal Service™ employees to support eVS occurs at destination bulk mail centers and destination delivery units. Depending on the mail class, rate category, or a particular mailer situation, eVS also uses origin sampling when appropriate.
Destination sampling provides the greatest opportunity to promote operational flexibility for mailers and to optimize Postal Service resources by concentrating sampling activities at key entry points or exit points within the Postal Service network. Destination sampling also follows the business models of plant-verified drop shipment (PVDS) that allow the mailer to control the length of order fulfillment periods, manage production and transportation scheduling, and make payment for mail closer to the actual time of entry.
Origin sampling is required, however, for nondestination entry rate mail such as First-Class Mail® and Priority Mail items, as well as other classes of mail prepared that do not claim destination entry rates, such as presorted Standard Mail® and presorted Bound Printed Matter. Origin sampling occurs either at the mailer’s plant or the business mail entry unit (BMEU) where such mail must be accepted. Mailers testing eVS also can benefit from sampling conducted at their production facilities as a way for the Postal Service to obtain the largest number of samples in the shortest period of time. Moreover, some eVS mailers have specifically requested origin sampling to monitor quality control and receive information more quickly during their production runs or immediately after production runs.
Letter-size mail and flat-size mail may not be manifested under eVS, except for Priority Mail pieces prepared in USPS®-provided flat-rate envelopes or other USPS-provided mailing envelopes used for mailing items at the 1–pound unzoned rate.
The processing category code “9” (Priority Mail parcel) is used in Detail Record 1 position 055 for these pieces prepared under eVS. Currently, Priority Mail is not available for eVS mailers. However, as announced in Postal Bulletin 22208 (6-7-07), field testing for Priority Mail is tentatively scheduled to begin July 1, 2007.
All mail prepared and manifested under eVS must meet the content eligibility requirements for the class of mail claimed in the manifest. Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail®, and Library Mail rates in particular may not be claimed if the content of the mailpiece does not meet the eligibility requirements specific to those subclasses. Mailers who are not certain about these content requirements should work closely with their BMEU to obtain advice on the eligibility requirements.
The postal routing barcode — the barcode representing the destination 5-digit ZIP Code™ — is a determinant of the $0.03 parcel barcoded discount for Parcel Post machinable parcels and certain Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, and Library Mail machinable parcels, depending on the rate category and destination facility. The absence of a postal routing barcode is a possible determinant of a 5-cent surcharge for certain First-Class Mail parcels and Standard Mail parcels, depending on rate category and, in the case of Standard Mail, processing category of machinability:
- For First-Class Mail, the surcharge applies to presorted 3-digit and ADC parcels that do not bear a POSTNET or UCC/EAN Code 128 barcode, or weigh less than 2 ounces, or are irregularly shaped such as tubes and rolls. The surcharge does not apply to nonbarcoded 5-digit and mixed ADC parcels or to single-piece rate First-Class Mail parcels.
- For Standard Mail, the surcharge applies to nonbarcoded parcels except for 5-digit rate parcels. Not Flat-Machinable (NFM) parcels weighing 6 ounces or more and all machinable parcels that are not NFMs must bear a UCC/EAN Code 128 barcode. Irregular parcels and NFMs weighing less than 6 ounces may bear either a POSTNET or UCC/EAN Code 128 barcode.
Discounts and surcharges are not included in the postage amount calculated and reported in Detail Record 1 positions 038–044. The discount or surcharge code is reported in Detail Record 1 positions 161–162, and the discount or surcharge amount is reported in Detail Record 1 positions 163–169.
The marking “eVS Test” may be required in the permit imprint indicia for mailers participating in a mailing test to use eVS while paying postage through a non-eVS manifesting system or other means of payment. The marking “eVS” indicates postage payment through the Electronic Verification System, with the elimination of paper documentation including postage statements, manifests, and PS Form 8125, Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Verification and Clearance.
When a mailer begins testing eVS, the mailer normally uses the permit imprint indicia shown in Publication 205, section 1-5.2, which includes the marking “eVS” in the permit imprint along with “eVS” as part of the human-readable text above the required UCC/EAN 128 Code barcode representing the Package Identification Code (PIC) printed on the parcel mailing label. If the testing period is relatively short, this use creates minimal problems; however, if the testing period is long, this use can confuse Postal Service employees who handle and accept these parcels.
Appendix A, “eVS Electronic File Layout,” uses bold underlined type to indicate changes since file format version 1.3 was replaced with file format version 1.4. Beginning with the May 14, 2007, implementation of the R2006-1 Omnibus Rate Case, eVS modified some of the fields in the file format and changed all coding used to identify parcel rate combination. The coding changes included adding the postal routing barcode in Detail Record 1 position 199 as the sixth rate “ingredient” required to define rate combinations as presented in Table G-10 in Appendix G, “Service Type Codes and Rate Ingredient Tables.” The file format modifications and the coding changes were announced in Postal Bulletin 22201 (3-1-07), with additional revisions in Postal Bulletin 22205 (4-26-07).
Appendix A is revised to clarify the use of Detail Record 1 positions 071–075 for reporting the COD amount used to calculate the COD fee. The amount reported in that field can either be the amount to be collected or desired insurance coverage, whichever is higher. The amount is used to calculate the required fee for COD service.
Appendix A is also revised to clarify the use of Detail Record 1 positions 082–086, 089–093, or 096–100 for reporting the fee amount for Delivery Confirmation for Parcel Select and Priority Mail parcels. Parcel Select and Priority Mail parcels prepared under eVS meet the Delivery Confirmation criteria for electronic transmission and therefore are not assessed the Delivery Confirmation fee. However, the computer logic used for eVS requires that the mailer report the use of Delivery Confirmation for these parcels by using Extra Service Code “01” in Detail Record 1 positions 080–081, 087–088, or 094–095, followed by “00000” in the corresponding fee amount field in Detail Record 1 positions 082–086, 089–093, or 096–100, respectively.
For eVS parcels of any subclass not claiming an extra service, such as Delivery Confirmation, “56” is the 2-digit Service Type Code that forms part of the 22-digit Package Identification Code (PIC) making up the parcel barcode.
The parcel barcode on machinable parcels can receive enroute a “passive scan” as the parcels are processed on parcel sorting equipment. Nonmachinable parcels that cannot be processed on parcel sorting equipment do not receive such scans. The term “passive scan” refers to automated barcode scanning by equipment, in contrast to an “active scan,” which refers to the manual barcode scanning by employees using hand-held devices.
Although Priority Mail parcels are not required to bear a postal routing barcode (the 5-digit destination ZIP Code of the delivery address), many mailers use this barcode for sorting parcels in their production facilities. A revision to Publication 205 published on page 74 in Postal Bulletin 22205 (4-26-07) presented new coding for eVS mailers planning to use Priority Mail service. That revision failed to revise Table G-7, “Postal Routing Barcode Codes,” in Appendix G to show that the POSTNET barcode was a possible barcode format that could be used with Priority Mail pieces.
Mailers interested in eVS can obtain further information about the program from the following sources:
- Publication 205, Electronic Verification System Technical Guide. This publication contains business and technical information about eVS, with coding and file format updates for the May 14, 2007, implementation of new rates. The revised Publication 205, renamed Electronic Verification System Business and Technical Guide, will soon be available to the public on the Postal Service Internet:
- Go to www.usps.com.
- Click on All Products & Services, then Publications, then Postal Periodicals and Publications, then Publications, and then on the links for Publication 205.
- It also will soon be available to Postal Service employees on the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site:
(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.)
- Postal Bulletin articles available at www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/pb.htm:
- Postal Bulletin Issue 22196, December 21, 2006 (comprehensive mailing standards as published in the DMM).
- Postal Bulletin Issue 22201, March 1, 2007 (complete information about coding and file format changes for the R2006-1 rate case).
- Postal Bulletin Issue 22204, April 12, 2007 (comprehensive information on eVS, mail classes supported by eVS after the R2006-1 rate case, and changes resulting from the R2006-1 rate case).
- Postal Bulletin Issue 22205, April 26, 2007 (extensive revisions to Publication 205, including sections on how to apply to become an eVS mailer and how to calculate postage).
- Postal Bulletin Issue 22206, May 10, 2007 (revisions to the address information for the PostalOne! Help Desk handling eVS applications and providing a start point for mailers interested in the eVS program).
- Postal Bulletin Issue 22208, June 7, 2007 (description of available parcel product subclasses supported by eVS, field testing of future parcel products, and a list of approved eVS mailers).
- PostalOne! Help Desk. The Help Desk can provide general business and technical information about the program, provide required forms, and assist mailers in completing the eVS application. Mailers can contact the Help Desk either by e-mail at postalone@usps.gov or by telephone at 800–522–9085.
Publication 205, Electronic Verification System Business and Technical Guide
1 The Basics
1-1 Overview
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[Revise 1-1a to read as follows:]
a. Sampling. eVS primarily uses destination sampling to capture sampling data used to monitor postage and preparation accuracy. When destination sampling occurs, the Postal Service collects the data after the mailer deposits the mailing at a destination entry facility. Depending on the mail class or particular mailer situation, eVS also uses origin sampling when appropriate to capture data at the mailer’s facility or at a business mail entry facility.
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1-4 Required and Optional Use of eVS
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1-4.3 Mailing Standards
The principal mailing standards for eVS are in DMM 705. The following standards also apply to eVS:
[Revise 1-4.3a and add new 1-4.3e to read as follows:]
a. Only parcels as defined in the DMM may be mailed using eVS. Letter-size and flat-size mailpieces may not be manifested using eVS, except for Priority Mail pieces mailed in USPS-provided mailing envelopes and claimed at the unzoned 1-pound rate.
* * * * *
e. All mail must meet the classification and content requirements in the DMM.
1-4.4 Postage Computation
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[Revise 1-4.4a to read as follows:]
a. Postage Amount. In eVS, the determinants of the postage amount shown in Detail Record 1 record positions 038-044 in the manifest file (see Appendix A) are class of mail, rate indicator, destination rate indicator, zone, processing category, and postal routing barcode (in the case of Parcel Select destination bulk mail center rate mail prepared without a postal routing barcode), weight of parcel, and size of parcel (in the case of balloon rate for Priority Mail, Parcel Post, and Parcel Select, and in the case of oversized rate for Parcel Post and Parcel Select). Each of these determinants — other than size of parcel except for Priority Mail dimensional-weight pricing — is recorded in a separate field in Detail Record 1.
The postal routing barcode is a possible determinant of a parcel barcoded discount as described in 1-4.4b or a possible surcharge for the absence of the postal routing barcode as described in 1-4.4c.
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[Redesignate current 1-4.4b as 1-4.4c and current 1-4.4c as 1-4.4b.]
* * * * *
1-5 eVS Permit Imprint Indicia
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[Add new 1-5.4 to read as follows:]
1-5.4 Test Indicator
The marking “eVS Test” may be required in the permit imprint indicia for mailers participating in a mailing test to use eVS while paying postage through a non-eVS manifest system or other means of payment.
* * * * *
Appendix A: eVS Electronic File Layout
Content and Explanation
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[Add a new paragraph after first paragraph to read as follows:]
On May 14, 2007, eVS changed parts of the file layout and nearly all coding to reflect the rate and classification changes stemming from the R2006-1 Omnibus Rate Case. This appendix shows those changes in bold underlined text.
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Detail Record 1 — Electronic File Record Format Version 1.4
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[In Detail Record 1, revise record positions 071-075, 082-086, 089-093, and 096-100 to read as follows:]
Appendix C: PS Form 1357-C
Completion and Submission
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[Revise the mailing address to read as follows:]
POSTALONE! HELP DESK
US POSTAL SERVICE
6060 PRIMACY PKWY STE 201
MEMPHIS TN 38188-0001
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Appendix G: Service Type Codes and Rate Ingredient Combinations
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Table G-1: Service Type Codes
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[Revise the introductory text by adding a new paragraph after the second paragraph to read as follows:]
Service Type Code 56 is used in the Package Identification Code and the corresponding parcel barcode when no extra service, including Delivery Confirmation, is claimed. The format of the barcode and the human-readable text above the barcode are described in Chapter 3. Parcel barcodes with Service Type Code 56 receive “passive scans” only if processed on parcel sorting equipment. These scans are termed “passive scans” because no employee scans the parcel barcode with a hand-held device.
* * * * *
[Revise Table G-1g to read as follows:]
Table G-1g: Passive Enroute Scan (No Extra Service)
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Table G-7: Postal Routing Barcode Codes
(Detail Record 1 Position: 199)
[In Table G-7, in the row for Postal Routing Barcode Code “2,” add “PM” to the column “Possible Mail Classes or Subclasses,” to read as follows:]
* * * * *
— Business Mailer Support,
Customer Service, 6-21-07
