Effective September 27, 2018, the Postal Service™ is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), sections 204.2.1, 213.3.2, 223.3.2, 253.3.3, 283.3.4, and 608.8.1, to add new Intelligent Mail® package barcode (IMpb®) validations for evaluating compliance with IMpb requirements for all mailers who enter commercial parcels. Specifically, to update IMpb Compliance Quality Threshold Validations for Address Quality, Shipping Services File Manifest Quality, and Barcode Quality. These validations would allow the Postal Service to improve service, tracking, and visibility, and promote positive customer experiences as well as improved identification of noncompliant mailpieces.
These changes were published in a Federal Register notice on September 21, 2018 (83 FR 47839). Clarification appears necessary for manifest quality specifications in the following USPS® response to mailer comments:
USPS Response: The Postal Service clarifies the two issues raised regarding manifest quality specifications:
1. Timing for the receipt of the Shipping Services file for eVS mailers; and
2. Element validation for manifest quality.
To clarify the first issue regarding timing for the receipt of the Shipping Services file, eVS mailers are required to transmit the Shipping Services file before the Arrival at Postal Office (07) scan event, unless the address information was provided in the Shipping Partner Event file before the Arrival at Post Office (07) scan event. If the address information is provided in the Shipping Partner Event file before the Arrival at Post Office (07) scan event, then the mailer must transmit the Shipping Services file before 23:59 p.m. local time on the date of the Arrival at Post Office (07) scan event. Mailpieces that do not have a Shipping Services file record or have an untimely record would be noncompliant and receive a Manifest Quality validation noncompliant code.
For the second issue involving manifest quality validation elements, the manifest file provides essential package level detail information about the product to enable efficiencies and enhance package visibility.
Although the Postal Service will publish these revisions in the DMM at a later date, the standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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200 Commercial Mail
204 Barcode Standards
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2.0 Standards for Package and Extra Service Barcodes
2.1 Intelligent Mail Package Barcode
2.1.1 Definition
[Revise the third and fifth sentences of 2.1.1 to read as follows:]
***Intelligent Mail package barcodes must be used on all commercial parcels and on other mailpieces requesting extra services.***Electronic files must include a complete destination delivery address (which has sufficient quality to yield an 11-digit ZIP Code that matches the delivery point) and a delivery point validation (DPV) 11-digit code for all records in the file.***
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2.1.3 Barcode Data Fields
[Revise the introductory text of 204.2.1.3 to read as follows:]
The following fields are used to construct the Intelligent Mail package barcode. Not every barcode type will use every field, and some fields may be suppressed from the human-readable text. Detailed specifications are provided in Publication 199: Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) Implementation Guide for: Confirmation Services and Electronic Verification System (eVS) Mailers, and available on PostalPro at postalpro.usps.com.***
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2.1.7 Electronic File
[Revise the second sentence of the introductory text of 204.2.1.7 to read as follows:]
***Specifications for electronic files are provided in Publication 199: Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) Implementation Guide for: Confirmation Services and Electronic Verification System (eVS) Mailers, and available on PostalPro at postalpro.usps.com.***
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[Revise the text of item d. to read as follows:]
d. Version 1.6 (or subsequent versions) of the electronic shipping services manifest files including each destination delivery address or ZIP + 4 Code. Shipping Services file manifests or other approved electronic documentation must include the destination delivery address (that has sufficient quality to yield an 11-digit ZIP Code that matches the delivery point) or delivery point validation (DPV) 11-digit ZIP Code for each record in the file.
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[Revise the title and text of 2.1.8 to read as follows:]
2.1.8 Compliance Quality Thresholds
All mailers who enter commercial parcels must meet the established thresholds for IMpb Compliance Quality outlined in Exhibit 2.1.8 to avoid an IMpb noncompliance fee. For details, see Publication 199: Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) Implementation Guide for: Confirmation Services and Electronic Verification System (eVS) Mailers or visit PostalPro at postalpro.usps.com.
[Add new section 2.1.9 to read as follows:]
2.1.9 Alternate Approval
Labels not meeting IMpb specifications or other label element standards, but still able to demonstrate acceptable functionality within USPS processes, may be allowed using an alternative approval process authorized by the vice president, Enterprise Analytics (See DMM 608.8.1 for contact information).
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210 Priority Mail Express
213 Prices and Eligibility
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3.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for Priority Mail Express
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3.2 IMpb Standards
[Revise the last two sentences of 3.2 to read as follows:]
***Unless otherwise excepted, mailpieces not meeting the requirements for use of unique Intelligent Mail package barcodes or extra services barcodes, as outlined in section 204.2.1.8 and Publication 199: Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) Implementation Guide for: Confirmation Services and Electronic Verification System (eVS) Mailers, will be assessed an IMpb noncompliance fee. Detailed specifications are available on PostalPro at postalpro.usps.com.
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220 Priority Mail
223 Prices and Eligibility
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3.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for Priority Mail
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3.2 IMpb Standards
[Revise the last two sentences of 3.2 to read as follows:]
***Unless otherwise excepted, mailpieces not meeting the requirements for use of unique Intelligent Mail package barcodes or extra services barcodes, as outlined in section 204.2.1.8 and Publication 199: Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) Implementation Guide for: Confirmation Services and Electronic Verification System (eVS) Mailers, will be assessed an IMpb noncompliance fee. Detailed specifications are available on PostalPro at postalpro.usps.com.
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250 Parcel Select
253 Prices and Eligibility
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3.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for Parcel Select Parcels
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3.3 IMpb Standards
[Revise the last two sentences of 3.3 to read as follows:]
***Unless otherwise excepted, mailpieces not meeting the requirements for use of unique Intelligent Mail package barcodes or extra services barcodes, as outlined in section 204.2.1.8 and Publication 199: Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) Implementation Guide for: Confirmation Services and Electronic Verification System (eVS) Mailers, will be assessed an IMpb noncompliance fee. Detailed specifications are available on PostalPro at postalpro.usps.com.
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280 First-Class Package Service — Commercial
283 Prices and Eligibility
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3.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for First-Class Package Service — Commercial
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3.4 IMpb Standards
[Revise the text of 3.4 to read as follows:]
All First-Class Package Service — Commercial parcels must bear an Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) prepared under 204.2.0. Unless otherwise excepted, mailpieces not meeting the requirements for use of unique Intelligent Mail package barcodes or extra services barcodes, as outlined in section 204.2.1.8 and Publication 199: Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) Implementation Guide for: Confirmation Services and Electronic Verification System (eVS) Mailers, will be assessed an IMpb noncompliance fee. Detailed specifications are available on PostalPro at postalpro.usps.com.
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600 Basic Standards For All Mailing Services
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608 Postal Information and Resources
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8.0 USPS Contact Information
8.1 Postal Service
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[Add the Enterprise Analytics address alphabetically to 608.8.1 to read as follows:]
***Enterprise Analytics, US Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 2100, Washington, DC 20260-2100.***
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The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification, Marketing, 9-27-18
