Effective March 5, 2018, the Postal Service™ will revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), to add the applicable verification descriptions, error thresholds, and postage assessment standards:
n 705.20, eInduction Option,
n 705.22, Seamless Acceptance Program, and
n 705.23, Full-Service Automation Option.
These standards were made available to the public at postalpro.usps.com via Publication 685, Publication for Streamlined Mail Acceptance for Letters and Flats, which also contains more information on verification processes.
Although we will not publish these revisions in the DMM until March 5, 2018; these standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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700 Special Standards
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705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems
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20.0 eInduction Option
20.1 Description
[Revise the fourth sentence of 20.1 to read as follows:]
***For additional information on the eInduction Option, see Publication 685, Publication for Streamlined Mail Acceptance for Letters and Flats, at postalpro.usps.com.
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[Add new section 20.5 to read as follows:]
20.5 Verifications
20.5.1 General
The six eInduction Option verification descriptions, error thresholds, and postage assessments are in 20.5.2 through 20.5.7.
20.5.2 Undocumented (Extra) Containers Verification
An Undocumented Container Error occurs when a scanned IMcb is not found in an eDoc, or is included in an eDoc and associated to a postage statement in estimated status. Containers will be flagged as “undocumented” 10 days after the scan unload date and time if no eDoc has been uploaded or if the postage statement is still in estimated status. The error threshold is 0 percent. All errors will be subject to an assessment amount of the average postage paid for each container mailed by the eDoc submitter CRID over the current invoice period to the eDoc submitter CRID or CRID tied to the MID contained within the IMcb.
20.5.3 Payment Verification
All containers must be linked to a finalized postage statement in eInduction to verify payment. The error threshold is 0 percent. Payment Verification Errors are logged when a scanned and accepted eInduction container is associated with a postage statement that is not in FIN or FPP status at the time of scanning. Containers above the error threshold will be subject to an assessment amount equal to the container’s eDoc postage amount as indicated on the non-finalized postage statements. For Payment Verification Errors logged on physical siblings of logical containers, the full postage of the logical container is charged to the first physical sibling container scanned. Any additional scans among other physical siblings will log errors, but will not result in an additional charge. Assessments will be logged against the eDoc submitter CRID.
20.5.4 Duplicate Verification
eInduction requires IMcbs to remain unique for 45 days. The error threshold is 0.17 percent. Duplicate Errors are logged when an IMcb is scanned and accepted during more than one FAST appointment in the previous 45 days. Duplicate Errors are not logged if the duplicate scans take place within 5 hours of the original container scan. Errors above the threshold are subject to an assessment amount equal to the average postage paid for each container mailed by the eDoc submitter CRID over the invoice period.
20.5.5 Misshipped Verification
Containers claiming a destination entry discount must be delivered to the correct entry locations per the active version of the Mail Direction File. The Mail Direction File is active at the beginning of the month and includes a 30-day grace period into the following month. The error threshold is 1.05 percent. Misshipped Errors are logged when the container is scanned at an incorrect entry location, per the Mail Direction File. Errors over the threshold are subject to an assessment amount equal to the difference between the eDoc postage claimed and the correct postage amount for the container. For Misshipped Errors logged against physical siblings of logical containers, postage is recalculated on the logical container, and divided by the number of physical siblings. This amount is then applied to each physical sibling in error to the eDoc submitter CRID.
20.5.6 Zone Discount Verification
Pieces claiming a Zone Discount must be entered at the valid facility. The error threshold is 0.01 percent. Zone Discount Errors are logged when one or more pieces on a container claim a lower entry zone than the zone calculated between the location where the container was entered and the eDoc destination. Errors above the threshold are subject to an assessment amount equal to the difference between the eDoc postage claimed and the correct postage amount for the container. For containers claiming a non-numeric Zone Discount in the eDoc, the correct postage amount is calculated using the piece rate for the Entry Discount that is valid at the actual entry point for the mail class, shape, weight, mail prep, and presort identified in the eDoc. For Zone Discount Errors logged against physical siblings of logical containers, postage is recalculated on the logical container, and divided by the number of physical siblings. This amount is then applied to each physical sibling in error to the eDoc submitter CRID.
20.5.7 Entry Point Discount (EPD) Verification
eInduction pieces are required to be entered at a valid facility when claiming a destination entry discount. The error threshold is 0.5 percent. EPD errors are logged when one or more pieces on a container claim an entry discount level that is not available at the location where the container was entered. Errors above threshold are subject to an assessment amount equal to the difference between the eDoc postage claimed and the correct postage amount for the container. For EPD errors logged against physical siblings of logical containers, postage is recalculated on the logical container, and divided by the number of physical siblings. This amount is then applied to each physical sibling in error to the eDoc submitter CRID.
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22.0 Seamless Acceptance Program
22.1 Description
[Revise the second sentence of 22.1 to read as follows:]
***For additional information on the Seamless Acceptance Program, see Publication 685, Publication for Streamlined Mail Acceptance for Letters and Flats, at postalpro.usps.com.
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[Add new section 22.4 to read as follows:]
22.4 Verifications
22.4.1 General
The five seamless acceptance program verification descriptions, error thresholds, and postage assessments are in 22.4.2 through 22.4.6.
22.4.2 Undocumented (Piece) Verification
An Undocumented Error is logged when the IMb gathered during sampling or Mail Processing Equipment scan cannot be linked to any eDoc submitted within the last 45 days. The error threshold is 0.3 percent. Pieces above the error threshold will be subject to an assessment amount equal to the average piece rate by mail class and CRID for the assessment month.
22.4.3 Delivery Point Verification
A valid delivery point must be provided in the piece IMb. The error threshold is 2 percent. Delivery Point Errors are logged when the delivery point provided in the eDoc is either not valid, or contains a generic +4 information with an address record type that is not General Delivery. Errors above the threshold are subject to an assessment amount equal to the difference between the eDoc piece postage and correct postage amount.
22.4.4 Nesting/Sortation (MPE) Verification
A Nesting/Sortation Error is logged when the piece scanned is nested in a different tray or bundle than the tray or bundle that was identified in the eDoc. The error threshold is 1 percent. Errors above this threshold are subject to an assessment amount equal to the difference between the eDoc piece postage and the correct postage amount.
22.4.5 General Postage Adjustment Factor Verification
The Postage Adjustment Factor (PAF) is a method to apply an error rate determined from handheld scanner samplings to the entire population of mailings within a calendar month. PAF is calculated on a monthly basis and measures the difference between the correct postage and the postage paid, expressed as a ratio of the correct postage due to the sum of eDoc postage for the sampled pieces. General PAF is used for errors in Postage and Weight verifications. The General PAF threshold factor is 1.05 (5 percent). A mailer will only be subject to an assessment when the eDoc submitter has exceeded the PAF threshold in the current billing month and three or more times in the previous 11 billing months. The General PAF is applied to the total monthly eDoc postage for the eDoc submitter and assessments are issued to the eDoc submitter.
22.4.6 Mail Characteristic Postage Adjustment Factor Verification
The Mail Characteristic Postage Adjustment Factor is used for errors in the processing category, mail class, nonprofit eligibility, and content. The threshold factor is 1.05 (5 percent). A mailer will only be subject to an assessment when the eDoc submitter has exceeded the Mail Characteristic PAF threshold in the current billing month and three or more times in the previous 11 billing months. The Mail Characteristic PAF is applied at the eDoc Submitter CRID level and is calculated using the adjusted and eDoc postage attributed to the Mail Owner.
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23.0 Full-Service Automation Option
23.1 Description
[Revise the second sentence of 23.1 to read as follows:]
***For additional information on the full-service automation option, see Publication 685, Publication for Streamlined Mail Acceptance for Letters and Flats, at postalpro.usps.com.
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[Add new section 23.6 to read as follows:]
23.6 Verifications
23.6.1 General
The six full-service verification descriptions, error thresholds, and postage assessments are in 23.6.2 through 23.6.7.
23.6.2 Mailer Identification (MID) Verification
The MID is a 6- or 9-digit code included in the Intelligent Mail barcode suite, allowing identification of the party responsible for a mailpiece, handling unit, or container. A valid MID is one that is registered within the Postal Service systems and provided in the eDoc. The error threshold is 2 percent for the piece, handling unit, and container level. Errors over the threshold will be subject to an assessment amount equal to the removal of the full-service discount claimed for each piece in error above the threshold.
23.6.3 Service Type ID (STID) Verification
The STID is a 3-digit code included in the IMb for a mailpiece to provide mail class and service level. The error threshold is 2 percent. Errors over the threshold will be subject to an assessment amount equal to the removal of the full-service discount claimed for each piece in error above the threshold.
23.6.4 By/For Verification
The By/For relationship recognizes the Mail Owner and Mail Service Provider in the eDoc. The error threshold is 5 percent. An error occurs when a valid Mail Preparer is not identified, a valid Mail Owner is not identified, Mail Preparer is incorrectly recorded as the Mail Owner, or the Mail Owner was previously identified as the Mail Preparer. Errors above the threshold are subject to an assessment amount equal to the removal of the full-service discount claimed for each piece in error above the threshold.
23.6.5 Barcode Uniqueness Verification
Barcode uniqueness is met when a barcode is unique across all mailers and mailings for 45 days. The error threshold is 2 percent. Errors occur when the IMcb, IMtb, or IMb is not unique across all mailings from all mailers over the previous 45 days of the Postage Statement Mailing Date that was provided in the eDoc. Errors above the threshold are subject to an assessment equal to the removal of the full-service discount claimed for each piece in error above the threshold.
23.6.6 Entry Facility Verification
The entry facility location must be identified in the eDoc by a Locale Key or ZIP Code. The error threshold is 2 percent. Errors above the threshold are subject to an assessment amount of the full-service discount claimed for each piece in error above the threshold.
23.6.7 Unlinked Copal Verification
Mailings that will be copalletized must be identified in the original eDoc submission. It is a requirement that the consolidator provide documentation within 14 days of the mailing date of the original eDoc to properly identify the linkage of the trays or sacks to the container. The error threshold is 5 percent. Errors above the threshold are subject to an assessment amount equal to the full-service discount claimed.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next online update of the DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification, Marketing, 1-18-18
