Effective January 22, 2015, the Postal Service™ is implementing a revenue assurance system to ensure accuracy of postage payment, primarily focused on its PC Postage and meter payment systems. The purpose of the planned system is to support recovery of postage discrepancies via detection of incorrectly paid postage based on piece characteristics.
This revenue assurance system compares data collected from within the postal network and derived from postal operations such as the in-line sortation equipment with data in the National Meter Account Tracking System (NMATS) database, Electronic Verification System (eVS) (for those customers using the Shortpaid model), Program Registration, and Product Tracking and Reporting (PTR) to determine whether accurate postage has been paid on mailpieces and packages.
This data will be summarized in a report or itemized file shared with third party software providers for purposes of remediating instances in which a postage disparity was identified by the Postal Service. Providers will see which of their postage accounts the Postal Service has identified as having paid incorrect postage on mailpieces and packages entered into the Postal Service system. In instances where no third party software vendor is employed, data will be shared directly with the end customer (eVS).
Because data derived from mailpieces will form the basis for assessing accurate postage and will be disclosed both internally and externally, the Postal Service is amending the Administrative Support Manual, section 2, to account for the disclosure of information or data about a piece of mail outside of the Postal Service, by employees, while performing official duties.
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Administrative Support Manual (ASM)
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2 Audits and Investigations
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27 Security
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274 Mail Security
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274.5 Disclosure of Information Collected From Mail Sent or Received by Customers
[Add item n to read as follows:]
n. Within the Postal Service and directly to eVS customers, or through third-party software providers (including meter and PC Postage providers) for the purpose of enabling responsible administration of revenue assurance and other postage evidencing system activities, facilitating remediation of postage disparities, and meeting SOX compliance requirements, in accordance with 39 CFR Part 501.
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We will incorporate this revision into the next online update of the Administrative Support Manual, which is available on the Postal Service PolicyNet website:
n Go to http://blue.usps.gov.
n Under “Essential Links” in the left-hand column, click PolicyNet.
n Click Manuals.
The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet website is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.
— Privacy Office,
General Counsel and Executive VP, 1-22-15
