Effective August 29, 2021, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) in various sections to include domestic mailing services products’ price adjustments.
On July 19, 2021, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) found that price adjustments that the Postal Service proposed to take effect August 29, 2021, may take effect as planned. On July 28, 2021, the PRC favorably reviewed the presorted postcard maximum size limitations that the Postal Service proposed. Final prices are available under Docket No. R2021-2 (Order No. 5937), and presorted postcard maximum size limitations are available under Docket No. MC2021-104 (Order No. 5946) on the PRC’s website at prc.gov.
The Postal Service will not publish these revisions in the DMM until August 29, 2021, which is when these standards will take effect.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
201 Physical Standards
1.0 Physical Standards for Machinable Letters and Cards
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1.2 Physical Standards for Cards Claimed at Card Prices
1.2.1 Dimensional Standards for Cards
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[Revise the text of item b. to read as follows:]
b. Not more than 4-1/4 inches high, or more than 6 inches long, or greater than 0.016 inch thick for each stamped card or each half of a double-stamped card or double postcard.
[Add new item c. to read as follows and renumber current item c. as item d.]
c. Not more than 6 inches high, or more than 9 inches long, or greater than 0.016 inch thick for each postcard.
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230 First-Class Mail
233 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees
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1.2 Price Computation for First-Class Mail Letters and Flats
1.2.1 Cards and Letters
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[Revise the text of 1.2.1b(2) and 1.2.1b(3) to read as follows:]
2. Nonautomation Machinable: One price per presort level up to the maximum 3.5 ounces.
3. Nonautomation Nonmachinable: One price per presort level up to the maximum 3.5 ounces.
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[Revise the title of 1.3 to read as follows:]
1.3 Automation and Nonautomation Prices for Cards and Letters
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[Revise the title and text of 1.4 to read as follows:]
1.4 Nonautomation Nonmachinable Price
For the letter-size nonautomation nonmachinable prices, see Notice 123 — Price List.
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2.0 Content Standards for First-Class Mail
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2.8 Round-Trip Mailings with One Optical Disc
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[Revise the text of 2.8a(1) to read as follows:]
1. Presort mailing at nonautomation machinable or automation First-Class Mail letter prices; or
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[Revise the title of 4.0 to read as follows:]
4.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Nonautomation Machinable First-Class Mail
[Revise the title and text of 4.1 to read as follows:]
4.1 Basic Standards for Nonautomation Machinable First-Class Mail
All pieces in a First-Class Mail nonautomation machinable mailing must:
a. Meet the basic standards for First-Class Mail in 3.0.
b. Be part of a single mailing of at least 500 pieces of nonautomation machinable price First-Class Mail.
c. Meet the physical standards in 201.3.0.
d. Bear a delivery address that includes the correct ZIP Code, ZIP+4 code.
e. Be marked, sorted, and documented as specified in 235.5.0.
[Revise the title and text of 4.2 to read as follows:]
4.2 Maximum Weight for Nonautomation Machinable Letters
Maximum weight for First-Class Mail nonautomation machinable letters is 3.5 ounces (0.2188 pound). See 201.3.6 for pieces heavier than 3 ounces.
[Revise the title and text of 4.3 to read as follows:]
4.3 Price Application — Nonautomation Machinable — Letters
Nonautomation machinable letters are subject to AADC and mixed AADC prices only.
[Add new sections 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 to read as follows:]
4.3.1 AADC Price
The AADC price applies to qualifying letter-size machinable pieces (see 201.1.0) placed in origin/entry AADC trays (regardless of quantity), to quantities of 150 or more pieces prepared in AADC trays for a single AADC, and to pieces placed in mixed AADC trays in lieu of overflow AADC trays.
4.3.2 Mixed AADC Price
The mixed AADC price applies to qualifying letter-size machinable pieces that the mailer prepares in mixed AADC trays, except for pieces placed in mixed AADC trays in lieu of overflow AADC trays (see 235.5.2.2).
[Add new sections 4.4 and 4.5 to read as follows:]
4.4 Maximum Weight for Nonautomation Nonmachinable Letters
Maximum weight for First-Class Mail nonautomation nonmachinable letters is 3.5 ounces (0.2188 pound). See 201.3.6 for pieces heavier than 3 ounces.
4.5 Nonautomation Nonmachinable Price Application — Letters
Nonautomation nonmachinable prices in 1.4 apply only to First-Class Mail letter-size pieces (including card-size pieces) that meet the criteria in 201.2.1 for nonmachinable letters. Nonautomation nonmachinable letters are subject to 5-digit, 3-digit, and mixed ADC prices.
4.5.1 5-Digit Price
The 5-digit price applies to letter-size mail in quantities of 150 or more pieces for a 5-digit ZIP Code prepared in 5-digit trays (overflow pieces in 3-digit or mixed ADC trays and 10 or more pieces, bundled in 3-digit origin/entry trays).
4.5.2 3-Digit Price
The 3-digit price applies to letter-size mail in quantities of 150 or more pieces for a 3-digit ZIP Code prepared in 3-digit trays (overflow pieces in MADC trays and 10 or more pieces bundled in 3-digit origin/entry trays).
4.5.3 Mixed ADC Price
The mixed ADC price applies to letter-size pieces that are subject to nonmachinable prices and prepared in mixed ADC trays.
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235 Mail Preparation
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[Revise the title of 5.0 to read as follows:]
5.0 Preparing Nonautomation Machinable Letters
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5.3 Nonmachinable Preparation
5.3.1 Nonmachinable Bundling
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[Delete current item c. and renumber current item d. as item c.]
5.3.2 Traying and Labeling
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[Delete current item c. and renumber current item d. as item c. Revise the text of renumbered 5.3.2c(1) to read as follows:]
1. Line 1: Use L201; for mail originating in ZIP Code areas in Column A, use “MXD” followed by city, state, and 3-digit ZIP Code prefix in Column C. (Use “MXD” instead of “OMX‘” in the destination line and ignore Column B.)
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240 USPS Marketing Mail
243 Prices and Eligibility
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6.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Enhanced Carrier Route USPS Marketing Mail Letters and Flats
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6.5 High Density and High Density Plus (Enhanced Carrier Route) Standards — Flats
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[Add new section 6.5.3 to read as follows:]
6.5.3 High Density Carrier Route Bundles on a 5-digit Pallet (High Density-CR Bundles/Pallet Price Eligibility) — Flats
High Density-CR Bundles/Pallet prices apply to each piece in a carrier route bundle of 10 or more pieces that are palletized under 705.8.0 on a 5-digit carrier route, 5-digit carrier routes, or 5-digit scheme carrier route pallet entered at an Origin (None), DNDC, DSCF, or DDU entry.
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700 Special Standards
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705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems
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5.0 First-Class Mail or USPS Marketing Mail Mailings with Different Payment Methods
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5.3 Producing the Combined Mailing
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5.3.2 Price and Postage Marking
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a. First-Class Mail:
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[Revise the text of current price and postage category line 19 entry, “Presorted Meter Postage Affixed,” to read as follows:
Machinable Mixed AADC/AADC Meter Postage Affixed
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8.0 Preparing Pallets
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8.6 Pallet Labels
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8.6.5 Line 2 (Content Line)
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[Add a new entry between “General Delivery Unit” and “Highway Contract Route” to read as follows:]
High Density/High Density Plus HD/HD+
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8.10 Pallet Presort and Labeling
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[Revise the title of 8.10.3 to read as follows:]
8.10.3 USPS Marketing Mail or Parcel Select Lightweight — Bundles, Sacks, or Trays
[Add new second sentence to the introductory text of 8.10.3 to read as follows:]
***For USPS Marketing Mail High Density flats price eligibility, only 5-digit pallets under 8.10.3a through 8.10.3c are allowed, and the pallets must be entered under None, DNDC, DSCF, or DDU standards. (Use “HD/HD+ DIRECT” for one route and “HD/HD+ CR-RTS” for multiple routes on the line 2 contents description.)***
[Revise the text of 8.10.3a through 8.10.3c to read as follows:]
a. 5-digit carrier route, required, bundles only, 250 pound minimum. Pallet must contain only carrier route mail for one carrier and the same 5-digit ZIP Code. Labeling:
1. Line 1: city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code destination.
2. Line 2: “STD” followed by “FLTS”; followed by “HD/HD+ DIRECT.”
b. 5-digit scheme carrier routes, required, allowed with no minimum, permitted for bundles of flats only. Pallet must contain only carrier route bundles for the same 5-digit scheme under L001. Labeling:
1. Line 1: L001.
2. “STD” followed by “FLTS”; followed by “HD/HD+” for High Density flats; followed by “SCHEME” (or “SCH”).
c. 5-digit carrier routes, required except for trays, permitted for bundles, sacks, trays, and cartons. Allowed with no weight minimum for bundles. Pallet must contain only carrier route mail for the same 5-digit ZIP Code. Labeling:
1. Line 1: city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code destination. (See 8.6.4c for overseas military mail.)
2. Line 2: For flats and Marketing parcels (Product Samples only), “STD FLTS” or “STD MKTG,” as applicable; followed by “HD/HD+” for High Density flats pricing eligibility; followed by “CARRIER ROUTES” (or “CR-RTS”). For letters, “STD LTRS”; followed by “CARRIER ROUTES” (or “CR-RTS”); followed by “BC” if pallet contains barcoded letters; followed by “MACH” if pallet contains machinable letters; followed by “MAN” if pallet contains nonmachinable letters.
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10.0 Merging Bundles of Flats Using the City State Product
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10.2 USPS Marketing Mail
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10.2.5 Pallet Preparation and Labeling
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[Revise the text of 10.2.5a(2) to read as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD FLTS CR-RTS SCHEME” followed by “HD/HD+” if the pallet contains High Density/High Density plus flats.
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[Revise the text of 10.2.5b(2) to read as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD FLTS CR/5D SCHEME” followed by “HD/HD+” if the pallet contains High Density/High Density plus flats.
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[Revise the text of 10.2.5c(2) to read as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD FLTS,” followed by “CARRIER ROUTES” or “CR-RTS” followed by “HD/HD+” if the pallet contains High Density/High Density plus flats.
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[Revise the text of 10.2.5d(2) to read as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD FLTS CR/5D” followed by “HD/HD+” if the pallet contains High Density/High Density plus flats.
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12.0 Merging Bundles of Flats on Pallets Using a 5 percent Threshold
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12.2 USPS Marketing Mail
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12.2.3 Pallet Preparation and Labeling
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[Revise the text of 12.2.3a(2) to read as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD FLTS CR-RTS SCHEME” followed by “HD/HD+” if the pallet contains High Density/High Density plus flats.
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[Revise the text of 12.2.3b(2) to read as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD FLTS CR/5D SCHEME” followed by “HD/HD+” if the pallet contains High Density/High Density plus flats.
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[Revise the text of 12.2.3c(2) to read as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD FLTS”; followed by “CARRIER ROUTES” or “CR-RTS” followed by “HD/HD+” if the pallet contains High Density/High Density plus flats.
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[Revise the text of 12.2.3d(2) to read as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD FLTS CR/5D” followed by “HD/HD+” if the pallet contains High Density/High Density plus flats.
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13.0 Merging Bundles of Flats on Pallets Using the City State Product and a 5 percent Threshold
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13.2 USPS Marketing Mail
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13.2.4 Pallet Preparation and Labeling
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[Revise the text of 13.2.4a(2) to read as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD FLTS CR-RTS SCHEME” followed by “HD/HD+” if the pallet contains High Density/High Density plus flats.
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[Revise the text of 13.2.4b(2) to read as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD FLTS CR/5D SCHEME” followed by “HD/HD+” if the pallet contains High Density/High Density plus flats.
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[Revise the text of 13.2.4c(2) to read as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD FLTS,” followed by “HD/HD+” if the pallet contains High Density/High Density plus flats and “CARRIER ROUTES” or “CR-RTS.”
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[Revise the text of 13.2.4d(2) to read as follows:]
2. Line 2: “STD FLTS CR/5D” followed by “HD/HD+” if the pallet contains High Density/ High Density plus flats.
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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,
Product Solutions, 8-12-21
