Effective March 3, 2014, the Postal Service™ will revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 705.14 to additionally clarify that nonbarcoded flats are included in the required preparation for flats sequencing system (FSS) processing. Such flats generally have to meet physical standards for flats-machinability such as deflection, flexibility, and uniform thickness standards. While the USPS encourages mailers to barcode all flats, nonbarcoded flats will be required to be included in FSS sortation as long as they meet all other eligibility standards.
Additionally, we are revising DMM 343 to clarify that nonautomation Standard Mail® flats not eligible for carrier route or 5-digit prices and correctly placed in FSS scheme bundles are eligible for 3-digit prices. New DMM 343.5.4c states this, but we are revising item 343.5.6 to more clearly agree with 343.5.4c.
Mailers should include nonbarcoded flats in FSS preparation as of January 26, 2014. Mailers also may claim 3-digit prices for nonautomation flats as indicated above and in the revised standards below as of January 26, 2014.
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Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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300 Commercial Flats
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340 Standard Mail
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343 Prices and Eligibility
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5.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Nonautomation Standard Mail Flats
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5.6 Mixed ADC Prices for Flats
[Revise the text of 5.6 to read as follows:]
Except for pieces properly prepared in FSS scheme bundles under 5.4c, mixed ADC prices apply to flat-size pieces in bundles that do not qualify for 5-digit, 3-digit, or ADC prices, placed in mixed ADC sacks, or on ASF, NDC, or mixed NDC pallets under 705.8.0.
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700 Special Standards
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705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems
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14.0 Combining Bundles of Flats within FSS Zones
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14.1 General
***Mailpieces and bundles also must be prepared as follows:
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[Revise item 14.1c to read as follows:]
c. It is recommended that nonautomation flats be barcoded to the finest extent possible.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next monthly update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 1-23-14
