Effective September 8, 2020, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), in various sections to reflect a change in the type of mailpieces that qualify for Flats Sequencing System (FSS) Scheme preparation. Mailers may optionally use the FSS Scheme preparation beginning August 1, 2020. However, mandatory compliance is required by January 1, 2021.
The Postal Service is updating FSS Scheme preparation for USPS Marketing Mail®, Bound Printed Matter, and Periodicals flat-sized mailpieces. This change clarifies which mailpieces qualify for FSS, the allowable exceptions to FSS Scheme preparation, and other optional FSS Scheme preparation.
Additionally, this change allows mailers to provide the Postal Service with mailings that are prepared in a manner that is better aligned with mail processing operations.
Although the Postal Service will not publish the following revisions in the DMM until September 8, 2020, the standards are effective August 1, 2020.
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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14.0 FSS Scheme Preparation
14.1 General
[Revise the text of 14.1 to read as follows:]
14.1.1 Eligibility
The following standards apply:
a. Except as provided in 14.1.2 and 14.1.3, all USPS Marketing Mail, Periodicals, and Bound Printed Matter (BPM) (automation, nonautomation, and carrier route) flat-size mailpieces that meet the physical standards for a flat-sized piece in 201 are required to be sorted to eligible FSS schemes under Labeling List L006, column B.
b. Mailings that include 10 or more pieces of USPS Marketing Mail flats, 6 or more pieces of Periodicals flats, or 10 or more pieces (or 10 or more pounds) of BPM flats to an FSS scheme must be separated or pooled into FSS scheme bundles.
c. The Postal Service recommends the use of authorized flat trays in lieu of sacks for FSS bundles.
d. All eligible pieces remaining from the FSS scheme sort must be separated or pooled into FSS facility schemes under Labeling List L006, column C, and properly bundled and placed on or in pallets, trays, sacks, or approved alternate containers, for FSS scheme ZIP Code combinations within the same facility.
e. Mailpieces that meet the eligibility standards for 5–digit or 3-digit automation, 5-digit or 3-digit nonautomation, carrier route (except USPS Marketing Mail saturation) or presort will continue to be eligible for those piece prices when prepared in accordance with the FSS preparations standards.
14.1.2 FSS Exceptions
The following pieces must not be sorted to FSS schemes and must be sorted to the applicable carrier route or nonmachinable flat-sized presort and Labeling List:
a. Carrier Route Simplified Addressed Saturation mailings (EDDM).
b. Mailpieces that do not meet the deflection standards in 201.4.6.
c. Flat-size pieces that do not meet any one of the minimum dimensions of an automation flat (either 5 inches high, or 6 inches long, or .009 inches thick).
d. Any Bound Printed Matter or Periodicals flat-size mailpiece that exceeds 20 ounces in weight.
14.1.3 FSS Optional Presort
The following types of pieces may optionally be prepared in FSS scheme bundles:
a. Mailings of In-County Periodicals flats and the associated Outside-County Periodicals flats mailings of 5,000 pieces or less may be prepared according to these standards in 14.0.
b. USPS Marketing Mail and Periodicals Carrier Route Saturation mailings (other than EDDM).
14.1.4 FSS Preparation
In addition to the applicable FSS scheme and facility presort, mailpieces and bundles must also be prepared as follows:
a. Bundles for all FSS schemes must be identified as an FSS scheme presort with an optional endorsement line under 203.7.0, or when authorized, using a red Label 5 SCH barcoded pressure-sensitive bundle label.
b. It is recommended that all pieces placed into an FSS scheme bundle be barcoded, and bear an accurate delivery point Intelligent Mail barcode with an accurate 11-digit routing code.
c. All FSS scheme bundles must be prepared in bundles with a 3-inch minimum and a 6.5-inch maximum height. The following standards also apply:
1. “Leveling” (adjusting bundle heights within an FSS Scheme to avoid overflow bundles) of the bundles within each scheme is encouraged.
2. Bundles must be placed on or in sacks, trays, pallets, or alternate authorized containers to form layers of consistent thickness.
3. Bundles of uneven thickness must be counter-stacked on pallets or approved alternate containers in accordance with 8.5.8.
4. Except for one overflow bundle that may be under the minimum size, all bundles within each FSS scheme must be of uniform size.
d. Pallets must be prepared under 8.0 and labeled under 8.6, with a pallet label bearing an Intelligent Mail container barcode as described in 204.3.4.
e. An FSS scheme pallet, or approved alternate container, must be made when 250 pounds or more of bundles are available for an individual FSS scheme. Bundles remaining after palletization may be placed in sacks (or flat trays, if approved) or approved alternate container.
f. FSS scheme bundles for multiple schemes processed at one facility according to Labeling List L006, column C, may be combined on an FSS facility pallet or approved alternate container if quantities are less than 250 pounds.
g. Sacks and trays containing flat-size pieces prepared under FSS schemes must meet the applicable sacking standards in 14.2, 14.3, and 14.4, and be labeled with an Intelligent Mail tray or sack label under 204.3.0.
14.2 Periodicals
14.2.1 Basic Standards
[Revise the introductory text of 14.2.1 to read as follows:]
All flat-size Periodicals flats meeting the standards in 14.1 and 201.6.2 must be separated or pooled into 5-digit FSS scheme bundles and placed on pallets, or in sacks or approved alternate containers, for delivery to ZIP Codes having FSS processing capability, as shown in Labeling List L006. Periodicals are subject to the following:
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14.3 USPS Marketing Mail
14.3.1 Basic Standards
[Revise the introductory text of 14.3.1 to read as follows:]
All flat-size USPS Marketing Mail mailpieces meeting the standards in 14.1 and 201.6.2 must be separated or pooled into 5-digit FSS scheme bundles and placed on pallets, or in sacks or approved alternate containers, for delivery to ZIP Codes having FSS processing capability, as shown in Labeling List L006. USPS Marketing Mail flats are subject to the following:
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14.4 Bound Printed Matter
14.4.1 Basic Standards
[Revise the introductory text of 14.4.1 to read as follows:]
All flat-size Bound Printed Matter (BPM) mailpieces meeting the standards in 14.1 and 201.6.2 must be separated or pooled into FSS scheme bundles and placed on pallets, or in flat trays, sacks, or approved alternate containers, for delivery to ZIP Codes having FSS processing capability, as shown in Labeling List L006. BPM flats are subject to the following:
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The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification, Marketing, 7-16-20
