Effective November 7, 2022, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), in various sections, to remove Flat Sequencing System (FSS) scheme preparation standards.
In the article titled “DMM Correction: Labeling List L051 for Parcel Select and Parcel Select Lightweight Parcels,” in Postal Bulletin 22602 (7-14-22, page 5), the Postal Service announced extensive changes to several labeling lists, including Labeling List L006. As a result of these changes the Postal Service is discontinuing the FSS scheme preparation.
The Postal Service will also update Quick Service Guide (QSG) 203, “Optional Information Lines”; 240f, “Commercial — USPS Marketing Mail Automation Flats,” and 260a, “Commercial — Bound Printed Matter Flats,” to remove FSS scheme preparation references.
For questions or support, contact the local USPS® Business Mail Entry Unit, or the Postal Service Mailing and Shipping Solutions Center at 877-672-0007 or MSSC@usps.gov.
Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in the DMM until November 7, 2022, the standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
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203 Basic Postage Statement, Documentation, and Preparation Standards
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3.0 Standardized Documentation for First-Class Mail, Periodicals, USPS Marketing Mail, and Flat-Size Bound Printed Matter
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3.2 Format and Content
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[Delete the second sentence of 203.3.2c(4).]
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7.0 Optional Endorsement Lines (OELs)
7.1 OEL Use
7.1.1 Basic Standards
[Revise the first sentence of 7.1.1 to read as follows:]
An optional endorsement line (OEL) may be used to label bundles instead of applying pressure-sensitive bundle labels or facing slips to the top piece of bundles including the correct ZIP Code listed in Column B of L006, as described in Exhibit 7.1.1.***
Exhibit 7.1.1 OEL Formats
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[Delete the following line items from Exhibit 7.1.1:]
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Additional required human-readable text for use with combined mailings of USPS Marketing Mail and Periodical flats:
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[Delete the following line items from Exhibit 7.1.1 under “Additional required human-readable text…”:]
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204 Barcode Standards
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3.0 Standards for Barcoded Tray Labels, Sack Labels, and Container Labels
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3.2 Specifications for Barcoded Tray and Sack Labels
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3.2.4 3-Digit Content Identifier Numbers
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Exhibit 3.2.4 3-Digit Content Identifier Numbers
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PERIODICALS (PER)
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PER Flats —
Merged Carrier Route, Barcoded, and Nonbarcoded
[Delete the “FSS scheme” and “FSS facility” line items.]
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PERIODICALS (NEWS)
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NEWS Flats —
Merged Carrier Route, Barcoded, and Nonbarcoded
[Delete the “FSS scheme” and “FSS facility” line items.]
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USPS MARKETING MAIL
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MKT Flats —
Merged Carrier Route, Automation, and Presorted
[Delete the “FSS scheme” and “FSS facility” line items.]
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PACKAGE SERVICES
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BPM Flats — Co-sacked Barcoded and Presorted
[Delete the “FSS scheme” and “FSS facility” line items.]
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207 Periodicals
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12.0 Nonbarcoded (Presorted) Eligibility
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12.2 Prices — Outside-County
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[Revise the last sentence of item a. to read as follows:]
a. ***The presort level of the piece is based primarily on the bundle level of the piece, except the presort level of pieces loose in trays, which is based on the tray level.
[Revise the text of items b. and c. to read as follows:]
b. Bundle prices are based on the bundle and container sortation level.
c. Container prices are based on the type of container (tray, sack, or pallet), the level of sortation of the container and where the container is entered.
12.3 Prices — In-County
12.3.1 5-Digit Prices
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[Delete item c. in its entirety.]
12.3.2 3-Digit Prices
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[Delete item c. in its entirety.]
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13.0 Carrier Route Eligibility
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13.2 Sorting
13.2.1 Basic Standards
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[Delete 207.13.2.1b(4) in its entirety.]
13.2.2 Sequencing Requirements
[Revise the text of 13.2.2 to read as follows:]
Basic carrier route mail must be prepared in carrier walk sequence or in line-of-travel (LOT) sequence according to USPS LOT schemes (23.8). For High Density and Saturation pieces, see 13.3.1.
13.3 Walk-Sequence Prices
13.3.1 Eligibility
[Revise the last sentence of 13.3.1 to read as follows:]
***High Density and Saturation mailings must be prepared in carrier walk sequence according to USPS schemes (see 23.8).
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14.0 Barcoded (Automation) Eligibility
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14.4 Prices — In-County
14.4.1 5-Digit Prices
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[Delete item c. in its entirety.]
14.4.2 3-Digit Prices
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[Delete item c. in its entirety.]
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17.0 Documentation
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17.4 Detailed Zone Listing for Periodicals
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17.4.3 Zone Abbreviations
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[Delete the FSS line item under 17.4.3.]
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18.0 General Mail Preparation
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18.3 Presort Terms
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[Delete item c. in its entirety, and renumber current items d. through u. as items c. through t.]
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18.5 FSS Preparation
[Delete 18.5, “FSS Preparation,” in its entirety.]
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29.0 Destination Entry
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29.5 Destination Flat Sequencing System (DFSS) Facility Entry
[Delete 29.5, “Destination Flat Sequencing System (DFSS) Facility Entry,” in its entirety and renumber current 29.6 as 29.5 throughout section.]
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240 Commercial Mail USPS Marketing Mail
243 Prices and Eligibility
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5.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Nonautomation USPS Marketing Mail Letters, Flats, and Presorted USPS Marketing Mail Parcels
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5.6 Nonautomation Price Application — Flats
5.6.1 5-Digit Prices for Flats
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[Delete item d. in its entirety.]
5.6.2 3-Digit Prices for Flats
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[Delete item c. in its entirety.]
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6.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Enhanced Carrier Route USPS Marketing Mail Letters and Flats
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6.3 Basic Price Enhanced Carrier Route Standards
6.3.1 Sequencing
[Revise the text of 6.3.1 to read as follows:]
All pieces mailed at basic prices must be prepared in walk sequence or in line-of-travel (LOT) sequence according to LOT schemes prescribed by USPS (see 245.9.9 and 245.9.10).
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6.3.3 Basic Price Eligibility — Flats
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[Revise the text of item a. to read as follows:]
a. Palletized under 705.8.0, 705.10.0, 705.12.0, or 705.13.0.
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6.3.4 Basic Carrier Route Bundles on a 5-Digit/Direct Container (Basic-CR Bundles/Container) Price Eligibility — Flats
[Revise the text of 6.3.4 to read as follows:]
The Basic-CR Bundles/Container discount applies 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 or 5-digit scheme carrier route pallet entered at an Origin (None), DNDC, DSCF, or DDU entry, or in a carrier route sack or tub under 245.9.3 and entered at an Origin (None), DNDC, DSCF, or DDU.
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6.5 High Density and High Density Plus (Enhanced Carrier Route) Standards — Flats
6.5.1 Basic Eligibility Standards for High Density and High Density Plus Prices
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{Revise the text of item a. to read as follows:]
a. Be prepared in walk sequence according to schemes prescribed by USPS (see 245.9.9).
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6.5.2 High Density and High Density Plus Prices for Flats
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[Revise the text of item a. to read as follows:]
a. Palletized under 705.8.0, 705.10.0, 705.12.0, or 705.13.0.
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[Delete item e. in its entirety.]
6.5.3 High Density Carrier Route Bundles on a
5-Digit/Direct Container (High Density-CR Bundles/Container Discount Eligibility) — Flats
[Revise the text of 6.5.3 to read as follows:]
The High Density-CR Bundles/Container discount applies to 125 or more High Density-eligible 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, or in a carrier route sack or tub under 245.9.3 and entered at an Origin (None), DNDC, DSCF, or DDU.
6.5.4 High Density Plus Carrier Route Bundles on a 5-Digit/Direct Container (High Density Plus-CR Bundles/Container Discount Eligibility) — Flats
[Revise the text of 6.5.4 to read as follows:]
The High Density Plus-CR Bundles/Container discount applies to 300 or more High Density Plus-eligible 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, or in a carrier route sack or tub under 245.9.3 and entered at an Origin (None), DNDC, DSCF, or DDU.
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6.7 Saturation Enhanced Carrier Route Standards — Flats
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6.7.3 Saturation (including EDDM) Carrier Route Bundles on a 5-Digit/Direct Container (Saturation-CR Bundles/Container Discount Eligibility) — Flats
[Revise the text of 6.7.3 to read as follows:]
The Saturation-CR Bundles/Container discount applies to at least 90 percent or more of the active residential addresses or 75 percent or more of the total number of active possible delivery addresses on each carrier route 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 the origin (None), DNDC, DSCF, or DDU entry, or in a carrier route sack or tub under 245.9.3 and entered at an Origin (None), DNDC, DSCF, or DDU.
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7.0 Eligibility Standards for Automation USPS Marketing Mail
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7.4 Price Application for Automation Flats
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[Revise the text of items a. and b. to read as follows:]
a. The 5-digit price applies to flat-size pieces in a 5-digit/scheme bundle or 15 or more pieces, as applicable.
b. The 3-digit price applies to flat-size pieces in a 3-digit/scheme bundle.
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245 Mail Preparation
1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation
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1.6 FSS Preparation
[Delete 1.6, “FSS Preparation,” in its entirety.]
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8.0 Preparing Nonautomation Flats
8.1 Basic Standards
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[Revise the text of item d. to read as follows:]
d. Sortation determines price eligibility as specified in 243.5.0.
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9.0 Preparing Enhanced Carrier Route Flats
9.1 Basic Standards
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[Revise the first sentence of item d. to read as follows:]
d. All pieces in the mailing must meet the specific sortation and preparation standards in 9.0 or the palletization standards in 705.8.0.***
[Revise item e. to read as follows:]
e. Sortation determines price eligibility as specified in 243.5.0.
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246 Enter and Deposit
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4.0 Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF) Entry
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4.2 Eligibility
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4.2.2 Flats
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[Delete items c. and d. in their entirety.]
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6.0 Destination Flat Sequencing System (DFSS) Facility Entry
[Delete 6.0, “Destination Flat Sequencing System (DFSS) Facility Entry,” in its entirety.]
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260 Commercial Mail Bound Printed Matter
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265 Mail Preparation
1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation
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1.6 FSS Preparation
[Delete 1.6, “FSS Preparation,” in its entirety.]
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266 Enter and Deposit
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5.0 Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF) Entry
5.1 Eligibility
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[Revise the text of item b. to read as follows:]
b. Are deposited at a DSCF listed in L005 or a USPS-designated facility and are addressed for delivery within the DSCF’s service area.
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5.2 Presorted Flats
[Revise the first sentence of 5.2 to read as follows:]
Presorted flats and automation flats in sacks for the 5-digit, 3-digit, and SCF sort levels or on pallets at the 5-digit scheme, 5-digit, 3-digit, SCF, and ASF sort levels may have DSCF prices.***
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7.0 Destination Flat Sequencing System (DFSS) Facility Entry
[Delete 7.0, “Destination Flat Sequencing System (DFSS) Facility Entry,” in its entirety.]
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700 Special Standards
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705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems
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[Delete the text of 14.0, “FSS Scheme Preparation,” in its entirety and revise the title of 14.0 to read as follows:]
14.0 RESERVED
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15.0 Combining USPS Marketing Mail Flats, Bound Printed Matter Flats, and Periodicals Flats
15.1 Basic Standards
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15.1.6 Piece Prices
[Revise the first sentence of 15.1.6 to read as follows:]
Apply piece prices based on the bundle level.***
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5.1.11 Preparation for FSS Zones
[Delete 15.1.11, “Preparation for FSS Zones,” in its entirety.]
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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, 9-22-22
