Effective July 11, 2016, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), section 505.1.5, to add a barcode option allowing Business Reply Mail® (BRM) customers sharing a BRM 9-digit ZIP Code™ the ability to trace the mail separately using a Mailer ID (MID) based Intelligent Mail® barcode (IMb).
Currently, when customers enroll in the BRM program they are assigned a unique BRM 9-digit ZIP Code based on the delivery address as a condition for mailing. Each BRM 9-digit ZIP Code is unique to a single permit holder, address, and a single BRM mail type, which can present a challenge if there are two or more organizations⁄groups⁄departments using the same address.
The MID based IMb option is being added for BRM customers to provide the increased flexibility requested by the mailing industry. Upon enrollment in the BRM program, customers will be able to use the MID based IMb combined with specific BRM Service Type IDs (STID) which will allow multiple entities with the same BRM 9-digit ZIP Code the ability to trace the mail separately.
The MID based IMb will require a Barcode ID, STID, MID, and serial number in the tracking code field and a ZIP+4® routing code.
Two new STIDs have been added to the BRM assignment matrix to accommodate this new option as follows:
n Business Reply Mail nonautomation without IMb Tracing — 072.
n Business Reply Mail nonautomation with IMb
Tracing — 032.
Additional information on the new BRM Reply Mail MID based IMb option, and STIDs can be found at http:⁄⁄ribbs.usps.gov⁄ or by contacting Himesh Patel at himesh.a.patel@usps.gov.
Additionally, the Postal Service will update section 708.4.3 for Reply Mail pieces and the use of IMb Tracing.
Although this clarification will not be published in the DMM until July 11, 2016, this revision is effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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500 Additional Mailing Services
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505 Return Services
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1.0 Business Reply Mail (BRM)
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1.5 Format Elements
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1.5.10 Additional Standards for Letter-Size and Flat-Size BRM Bearing an IMb
[Revise the first sentence of 1.5.10 to read as follows:]
Except as provided under 1.5.11, when an Intelligent Mail barcode is printed on any BRM pieces, it must contain the barcode ID, service type ID, and correct unique ZIP+4 routing code, as specified under 708.4.3.***
[Add new 1.5.11 to read as follows:]
1.5.11 Mailer ID (MID) Based IMb Option
A mailer may use a MID based Intelligent Mail barcode on BRM pieces. The MID based IMb must contain the barcode ID, specific service type ID, Mailer ID, and serial number in the tracking code field, and a ZIP+4 routing code. Additional information on the MID based Intelligent Mail barcode can be found at http:⁄⁄ribbs.usps.gov⁄. Place the barcode according to 1.5.10.
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1.6 Additional Standards for Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM)
1.6.1 Description
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[Revise the text of item f. to read as follows:]
f. Bears the correct Intelligent Mail barcode, correctly prepared under 1.5.10 or 1.5.11 and 708.4.0, that corresponds to the unique ZIP+4 code in the address on each piece distributed.
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700 Special Standards
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708 Technical Specifications
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4.0 Standards for Intelligent Mail and POSTNET Barcodes
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4.3 Intelligent Mail Barcodes
4.3.1 Definition
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[Revise the text of item c. to read as follows:]
c. Reply Mail pieces using origin IMb Tracing do not require a Mailer ID (MID) to be encoded into the Mailer Identifier field. All other mailpieces, including QBRM letters and PRM pieces, bearing Intelligent Mail barcodes must include the MID in the Mailer Identifier field. Additional information on IMb Tracing is available under 503.11.0. Mailers printing the Intelligent Mail barcode solely for automation price eligibility can contact the PostalOne! Help Desk at 800-522-9085 to obtain a MID.
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We will incorporate this revision into the July update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http:⁄⁄pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Marketing and Sales, 5-26-16
