Finance

Fiscal Year 2021 Closing Guidance: Message from the Vice President, Controller

Thank you for all of your efforts to control expenses during fiscal year (FY) 2021 and provide timely updates on your expenses so that we maintain complete and accurate financial statements. It is important that we carry this effort through to the end of the fiscal year by controlling discretionary activity. This does not mean curtailing business, but it does mean making prudent choices by deferring or eliminating noncritical activity, and purchasing goods or services throughout the fiscal year, rather than at the end of it, simply because budgeted funds are available. Please encourage your contractors to bill us in a timely manner for goods received and services rendered, or inform us of any billing delays so we can recognize the expense before the end of the fiscal year.

The following instructions will assist you, when appropriate, in helping the Postal Service™ close its financial books in a timely and efficient manner so that we meet our mandate with the Postal Regulatory Commission.

Cara M. Greene
Vice President, Controller

I. Instructions for Fiscal Year 2021 Closing

We request that all organizations limit their expense and capital expenditures, particularly for Postal Service support equipment, to essential needs. Accordingly, all vice presidents should review discretionary spending to ensure the Postal Service attains its financial target for this fiscal year.

The instruction and reporting dates in this Postal Bulletin supplement procedures followed during the normal monthly or quarterly reporting schedule.

II. Fiscal Year

The Postal Service prepares its annual reports on a government FY basis, which comprises 365 days (366 in leap years), always ending on September 30.

III. End of Year Processing Activities and Timelines, Requisitions, and Contract Actions

To ensure timely processing, submit purchase requests, expense and capital requisitions, requests for contract awards, and contract modifications for FY 2021 to Supply Management for processing by the dates specified in this article.

Requisitions for Contract Actions (Other than IT and Telecom)

For FY 2021, submit expense requisitions and requests for contract actions to Supply Management before August 31, 2020. Any requests received after this date may not be processed for award and delivery by September 30.

Requisitions for Contract Actions (Capital Purchases)

For FY 2021, submit capital requisitions and requests for contract actions to Supply Management on or before September 8, 2021. Any requests received after this date may not be processed for award by September 30.

Urgency and Prioritization of Peak Season Purchases

In anticipation of peak season needs, submit requisitions with proper supporting documentation in a timely manner to avoid delays. Supplies and equipment used in the prior year’s peak season and likely to be used again in the coming peak season must be adequately inventoried and stocked well ahead of time.

Requisitions for FY 2022 Contract Actions

For FY 2022, submit expense and capital requisition requests for contract actions that require a start date before October 1, 2021, to Supply Management by August 31, 2021. Any requests received after this date may not be processed for award by the required start date.

FY Processing of Funds

The St. Louis Accounting Service Center (ASC) and the St. Louis ASC Satellite Office based in San Mateo (formerly known as the San Mateo ASC) will process against the appropriate fiscal year funds based on contract or modification issuance in accordance with the table shown here. Your actual expense may vary as we are required to record our expenses in the month in which the expense is incurred in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP). Processing performed by Accounting Services, St. Louis ASC Satellite Office, is adjusted through the accrual process further explained in the table.

 

Types of contracts or modifications

Issue Date

For requisitions received

Funds will be processed against

All contracts or modifications other than IT and telecom

Issued by
September 30, 2021

On or before
August 31, 2021

FY 2021 funds

Capital purchases

On or before
September 8, 2021

FY 2021 funds

All contracts or modifications

Issued after September 30, 2021

On or after
September 1, 2021 (Expense) and
September 8, 2021 (Capital)

FY 2021 funds

Transmit electronic files to Accounting Services as follows:

 

Send electronic files for...

To...

No later than...

Contract Authoring and Management System

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 30, 2021

Facilities capital commitments and expense payments

St. Louis ASC

September 30, 2021

IV. Payments and Accruals for Year-End Closing FY 2021

Payments

Submit appropriate receiving reports or certified invoices for goods and services (received by September 30) to Accounting Services, St. Louis ASC Satellite Office, no later than Friday, October 1, 2021.

1. Expedite processing of receiving reports and certified invoices, as these documents are used to charge expense to the proper FY.

2. Additionally, review contracts to ensure sufficient funds are available by Monday, August 30, to process invoices.

3. Supply Management will process all requisitions for the issuance of contracts against FY 2021 funds according to the following priorities:

n Priority 1 — Capital commitment requisitions.

n Priority 2 — Expense commitment requisitions.

Accruals

We will process monthly accruals for Headquarters (HQ) expense as normal and as communicated to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and their budget coordinators. Note: Any unusual or non-recurring expense must be communicated to the ELT budget coordinators as a possible adjustment to the normal ELT accrual.

1. All HQ accruals will occur at the ELT or VP finance level.

2. Certified invoices for goods and services received by September 30 must be received by Accounting Services, St. Louis ASC Satellite Office, no later than Friday, October 1. All invoices not received by St. Louis ASC Satellite Office by October 1, 2021, will be processed in October 2021 and charged in FY 2022.

3. If goods or services have been received as of September 30, 2021, but the vendor invoice has not been received, approved, and submitted to the St. Louis ASC and the St. Louis ASC Satellite Office for payment, these expenses will need to be accrued. Please contact your respective Budget Coordinator to complete the accrual. This process ensures we record our expenses in the right month and remain compliant with US GAAP.

V. Forms and Other Required Submissions Schedule (Appendix)

This table describes the schedule for submitting forms and other required submissions for FY 2021 Year-End Closing.

 

Form #

Item

Submit by

Submit to

Received by Date

PS Form 1839

Payment Record for Carrier Drive Out Agreements

Field offices

eIWS Online Forms

September 8, 2021

PS Form 1164-A

Claim for Reimbursement for Postal Supervisors (for Employee Business Expenses only)

Field offices

eIWS Online Forms

September 8, 2021

PS Form 17

Stamp Requisition \u2044 Stamp Return

Field offices

Stamp Fulfillment Services

September 8, 2021

N\u2044A

All Recognition and Incentive Awards

All offices

eAwards

September 8, 2021

PS Form 1233

Project Financial Change/Completion Report — to add site prep cost to existing assets or Construction-In-Progress (CIP)

St. Louis

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 15, 2021

N\u2044A

Email from accounting assistant to add inventory items to fixed assets or CIP

Topeka Material Distribution Center (MDC)

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 15, 2021

N\u2044A

Government Printing Office

Supply Management (HQ)

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 21, 2021

PS Form 1902

Justification for Billing Accounts Receivable
(Non-Payroll)

Field offices

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 21, 2021

N\u2044A

Tort claims

All offices

District Tort Claims Coordinator

September 21, 2021

N\u2044A

Project facility system

Facilities

St. Louis ASC

September 21, 2021

PS Form 2880

Physical Inventory — Adjustments (Additions/Reinstatements)

Asset Accountability Service Center

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 21, 2021

N\u2044A

Hard copy paper commitment documents

Supply Management (HQ)

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 21, 2021

SF 97

The U.S. Government Certificate of Release of a Motor Vehicle

Field offices

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 21, 2021

N\u2044A

Vehicle hire payment certification reports

Field offices

Local Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF) Manager

September 21, 2021

N\u2044A

Inter-Agency Payment and Collection Certified invoices

Field offices

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 21, 2021

N\u2044A

Government travel account

St. Louis

St, Louis ASC

September 21, 2021

N\u2044A

eTravel (approving official)

All offices

St. Louis ASC

September 23, 2021

PS Form 2551

Non-good and Non-service Payment Authorization

All offices

eIWS Online Forms

September 23, 2021

PS Form 3533

Application for Refund of Fees, Products, and Withdrawal of Customer Accounts

Field offices

eIWS Online Forms

September 23, 2021

PS Form 4587

Request to Repair, Replace, or Dispose of Postal Service-Owned Vehicle

Marlene Kocken – Fleet Management

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 27, 2021

PS Form 1129

Cashier Reimbursement Voucher and Accountability Report (Imprest fund)

All offices (Imprest)

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 28, 2021

N\u2044A

Gasoline credit card (fleet card)

U.S. Bank

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 28, 2021

PS Form 2146

Employee’s Claim for Personal Property

All offices

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 28, 2021

PS Form 4503

Vehicle Delivery Control Sheet

VMF

Marlene Kocken–Fleet Management

September 30, 2021

PS Form 4541

Order-Invoice for Vehicle Repair (Commercial work order)

Field offices

Local VMF Manager

September 30, 2021

N\u2044A

USPS Telecom Data invoices

Calero

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 30, 2021

N/A

National Transportation Services

Supply Management (HQ)

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 30, 2021

N\u2044A

eBuy+ utilities

All offices

eBuy+
Post \u2044 Certify Module

September 30, 2021

N\u2044A

Commitments through APEX-CAMS electronic interface

Supply Management (HQ)

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 30, 2021

N\u2044A

Direct Vendor Delivery and eBuy+*

Topeka MDC

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 30, 2021

N\u2044A

Telecommunications Expense Management

Raleigh Network Operations

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 30, 2021

N\u2044A

Material Distribution Inventory Management System invoices

Topeka MDC

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 30, 2021

N\u2044A

National Customer Management System invoices

Stamp Fulfillment Services

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 30, 2021

N\u2044A

Program Cost Tracking System invoices (PCTS)

PCTS Systems Administrator

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 30, 2021

N\u2044A

UTIL — Energy Initiatives

Energy United \u2044 NISC

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 30, 2021

N\u2044A

Solution for Enterprise Asset Management invoices

Topeka MDC

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 30, 2021

N\u2044A

Supplier invoices and contracting officer (CO)/Contracting officer representative (COR) Invoice approvals and receipt of goods and services

All offices

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

September 30, 2021

N\u2044A

Basic Pricing Agreement cover sheets

All offices

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

October 1, 2021

N\u2044A

Capital and expense receiving report

All offices

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

October 1, 2021

N\u2044A

Certified Invoices — supplies and services, bulk fuel and oil purchases, motor vehicle parts, non-metered heating fuel

All offices

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

October 1, 2021

N\u2044A

U.S. Bank Visa accrual

U.S. Bank

St. Louis ASC Satellite Office

October 1, 2021

N\u2044A

Relocation Management Firm accruals

Accounting (HQ)

Relocation

October 1, 2021

N\u2044A

Commercial Bank Reconciliations

JP Morgan Chase and Citibank

Eagan ASC

October 11, 2021

*Do not place orders for DVD or eBuy+ purchases from September 28 through October 1, 2021, except for critical needs.

Address questions concerning these instructions to the appropriate Accounting Services Center locations or Finance office indicated in the table above.