Effective August 6, 2012, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 503.5 to allow mailers paying postage by permit imprint to report identical weight pieces on PS Form 3606, Certificate of Bulk Mailing. This revision also serves to incorporate PC Postage® information-based indicia (IBI) as an authorized method of payment for certificate of bulk mailing fees.
Previously, only mailers paying postage with ordinary stamps, precanceled stamps, or meter stamps for identical weight pieces could report them on PS Form 3606. With this revision, all authorized postage payment methods will be permitted.
Additionally, both postage meter and PC Postage indicia have become collectively known as postage evidencing systems. Postage evidencing systems are currently acceptable methods of postage payment when the indicia are affixed to a label. Therefore, this revision also incorporates PC Postage IBI imprints as an option for mailers to pay the certificate of bulk mailing fees on PS Form 3606. PS Form 3606 is used to specify only the number of pieces mailed and does not provide evidence that a piece was mailed to a particular address.
Customers requesting significant volumes (50 or more pieces) of individual certificates of mailing are reminded to contact the postmaster or other postal manager in advance to ensure that adequate resources are available to accommodate the requested service at the designated acceptance location.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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500 Additional Mailing Services
503 Extra Services
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5.0 Certificate of Mailing
5.1 Certificate of Mailing Fees
[Revise the text of 5.1 as follows:]
In addition to the correct postage, the applicable certificate of mailing fee must be paid for each article on Form 3817, Certificate of Mailing, or Form 3877, Firm Mailing Book for Accountable Mail (5.2.3), and for duplicate copies (5.3.3). Fees may be paid by affixing ordinary stamps or postage evidencing indicia to either form. When postage evidencing indicia are used, they must bear the full numerical value of the fees in the imprint. Mailers using Form 3877 with a permit imprint mailing may pay certificate of mailing fees by permit imprint. See Notice 123—Price List.
5.2 Basic Information
[Revise the heading of 5.2.1 as follows:]
5.2.1 Description—Individual Pieces
[Revise the text of 5.2.1 as follows:]
Certificate of mailing service is available only at the time of mailing and provides evidence that mail has been presented to the USPS for mailing. Certificate of mailing service does not provide a record of delivery, and the Postal Service does not retain postmarked copies of Form 3817, Form 3877, or USPS-approved facsimiles. Each individual form or firm sheet is postmarked (round-dated) at the time of mailing; the form(s) are then returned to the mailer and become the mailer’s receipt.
5.2.2 Eligible Matter—Single Piece
[Revise the text of 5.2.2 as follows:]
Form 3817, or a USPS-approved facsimile, is used for a certificate of mailing for an individual First-Class Mail, Priority Mail (excluding Critical Mail), Parcel Return Service, or Package Services mailpiece.
5.2.3 Three or More Pieces
[Revise 5.2.3 as follows:]
When requesting a certificate of mailing for three or more pieces presented at one time, a mailer may use Form 3877 (firm sheet) or a USPS-approved facsimile, including computer-generated firm sheets, subject to payment of the applicable fee for each item listed. Except when omitting columns that are not applicable to certificate of mailing, facsimiles of Form 3877 must contain the same information as the USPS form and must be approved by the local postmaster or manager, Business Mail Entry. Any alterations made to firm sheet entries must be initialed by the mailer and the accepting employee. All unused portions of the addressee column must be obliterated by drawing a diagonal line through them.
[Delete 5.2.4 in its entirety.]
[Renumber 5.2.5 and 5.2.6 as new 5.2.4 and 5.2.5. Revise newly numbered 5.2.4 as follows:]
5.2.4 Mailer Preparation
A certificate of mailing must be completed by the mailer; all entries must be typed or printed in ink, computer-generated, or made by ballpoint pen; and the form or firm sheets become the mailer’s receipts. Individual certificate and firm sheets must show the names and addresses of the sender and addressee and may show the amount of postage paid. The mailer may also place identifying invoice or order numbers on the certificate as a reference.
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5.3 Presentation
5.3.1 Rural Carriers
[Revise the second sentence of 5.3.1 as follows:]
***The carrier obtains the certificate at the Post Office, attaches the stamps, obtains the postmark (round-date) on the certificate on the day of mailing, and delivers the certificate to the mailer on the next trip.
[Revise the heading of 5.3.2 as follows:]
5.3.2 Quantity Mailings—Three or More Pieces
[Revise 5.3.2 as follows:]
When the number of articles presented justifies such action, the mailer must comply with these standards:
a. When the mailer requests multiple individual certificates (Form 3817), the forms must be affixed by the stub to the pieces, or the forms must be fastened together and numbered consecutively in the same order that the pieces are presented.
b. When the mailer describes and lists three or more individual pieces on Form 3877, but does not present the pieces in the order shown on the sheets, the mailer must consecutively number each entry line on the sheet and lightly number each piece to show both the corresponding sheet and line number.
[Revise the heading of 5.3.3 as follows:]
5.3.3 Duplicate Copies—After Mailing
[Revise 5.3.3 as follows:]
To obtain a duplicate copy of the certificate after mailing, the mailer must present the original postmarked certificate and an additional certificate endorsed “Duplicate” or a copy showing the original dates of mailing. The additional certificate is postmarked (round-dated) to show the current date.
[Add new section 5.4 as follows:]
5.4 Other Bulk Quantities—Certificate of Bulk Mailing
5.4.1 Certificate of Bulk Mailing Fees
In addition to the correct postage, the applicable certificate of bulk mailing fee must be paid for mailings of identical-weight pieces reported on Form 3606 or for additional copies of the form. Mailers using Form 3606 may affix ordinary stamps or postage evidencing indicia on the form to pay the fee. When postage evidencing indicia are used, they must bear the full numerical value of the fee in the imprint. See Notice 123—Price List.
5.4.2 Description
Form 3606 is available only at the time of mailing and is used to specify only the number of identical-weight pieces mailed; it does not provide evidence that a piece was mailed to a particular address. This certificate is provided only for a mailing of First-Class Mail, First-Class Package Service, Priority Mail (excluding Critical Mail), Package Services, Standard Mail (except Customized MarketMail), and Parcel Select. Each Form 3606 is certified and postmarked (round-dated) at the time of mailing and then returned to the mailer as the mailer’s receipt. Certificate of bulk mailing service does not provide a record of delivery, and the Postal Service does not retain any copies of Form 3606. Form 3606 cannot be used as an individual or an itemized list.
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We will incorporate this revision into the next update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 7-12-12
