USPS eSourcing
Frequently Asked Questions

What is USPS eSourcing?

USPS eSourcing is an industry-proven, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software application hosted external to the Postal Service as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery model by solution provider Emptoris, Inc.  The USPS eSourcing solution includes eRFx (electronic requests for information, quote, and proposal), optimization, and reverse auction capabilities as well as a seamlessly-integrated supplier registration module.  

Is support available for technical issues with eSourcing?

Technical assistance is available via the Emptoris Support help desk via e-mail at support@emptoris.com or by telephone at 1 (888) 791-3069.  Technical assistance includes password re-set.

What happens if I forgot my login name and/or password?

Click the ‘Forgot your Login Name or Password’ links on the USPS eSourcing landing page (https://uspsprod.emptoris.com).

What fields are required to complete the registration entry?

All required fields in USPS eSourcing Supplier Registration are designated with a red asterisk.

What happens after registering our organization with eSourcing?

After registering your organization with USPS eSourcing, the registration entry is reviewed for accuracy and completeness by a USPS eSourcing Administrator.  Once the registration entry is approved (normally one business day after the registration process is completed by the supplier organization), the system will generate a temporary password, which is automatically sent to the supplier.  Upon your first log-in, the system will prompt you to change your password.

How do I register my organization with USPS eSourcing?

Registration information is available at https://about.usps.com/suppliers/becoming/registration.htm
The USPS Supplier Registration Guide is also available at this site.  We recommend printing and reviewing the guide prior to completing the registration process on-line at https://uspsprod.emptoris.com
This will provide you the opportunity to compile the information required in the registration process, which may not be readily available to you at that time.

I haven’t received my temporary password.  Should I register again?

No; please register your organization only once.  If you don’t receive your temporary system-generated password within two business days of registering your organization, please contact the USPS e-Sourcing team at esourcing@usps.gov.

I’ve received my password, but the solution will not permit me to log-in.

The Name and Password fields are case-sensitive and must be entered exactly as originally defined.  The Name field was determined by the organization’s supplier application manager.  The password field was originally a system-generated password, which must be changed upon first log-in to USPS eSourcing.  Please contact the Emptoris Support help desk via e-mail at support@emptoris.com or by telephone at 1 (888) 791-3069 to resolve log-in issues.

What is the Supplier Application Manager role within USPS eSourcing?

The Supplier Application Manager is the person responsible for managing the supplier’s account in USPS eSourcing.  This entails overall administration duties, such as adding and authorizing additional organization users, maintaining and managing supplier data, and updating the organization’s data on a yearly basis.

How do I search for proposal opportunities within USPS eSourcing?

Supplier organizations will not see opportunities within USPS eSourcing unless a USPS contracting specialist invites the supplier to participate in an eRFx event or reverse auction.  Postal opportunities are normally posted on beta.SAM.gov (http://beta.SAM.gov) and are then channeled through the USPS eSourcing solution for supplier submission of proposals and subsequent postal evaluation.  Suppliers should search FEDBIZOPPS for postal opportunities of interest.  If there are any opportunities of interest, the supplier should then contact the postal contracting specialist responsible for the posting, requesting an invitation participate in the USPS eSourcing event.

Is there supplier training available for USPS eSourcing?

Supplier training is available within USPS eSourcing.  After logging into the solution, go to the ‘Utilities’ tab, which contains a drop-down menu.  Select the first choice ‘Tutorials’ which displays the training screen, with eight areas of training.  Move the mouse over any of the tabs for additional drop-down selections in those areas of eSourcing concentration.  Selecting an option provides a short tutorial on the subject.

My organization does not have the required DUNS number, so I cannot complete the registration process.  What do I do?

The DUNS number is a 9-digit number, required by USPS eSourcing.  If you do not have a DUNS number, you can acquire one by calling 1 (866) 705-5711 or by visiting the D&B website (dnb.com) and clicking on the “Get a D&B D-U-N-S Number selection under the Customer Resources column.

What is a NAICS code and how do I find which code is appropriate for my organization?

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is a standard for use by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the collection, analysis, and publication of statistical data related to the business economy of the United States.  USPS eSourcing requires a 5-digit primary NAICS code be entered during the registration process.  The entry of up to four additional NAICS codes is optional.

If you are unsure of what the NAICS code is for your organization, visit the NAICS home page (www.naics.com).  Follow the directions on the screen for a free search to determine the 5-digit NACIS code that applies to your organization.    

Is revenue information required when registering?

Yes; USPS eSourcing requires a registering organization to provide the last three (3) years of its revenue data.  Revenue data must be entered in whole numbers, i.e., $1,200,00 (last year), $995,000 (two years ago), and $805,200 (three years ago).

Our organization is a subsidiary.  Do we have to provide information regarding our parent organization?

There is a question on the registration entry asking if there a parent company.  If yes, please enter the parent name, address, city, state, and telephone number.  If no is selected from the drop-down menu, the four fields following the question may be skipped.

What is UNSPSC?

UNSPSC stands for the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code.  The designation is a commodity code that identifies goods and services sold by a company; not the company itself.  Go to www.unspsc.org to browse and/or download the current version of the code at no cost.

USPS eSourcing requires at least one (1) UNSPSC be selected from the accompanying table in the registration process, although you may select as many codes that apply to your organization.  The code(s) may be used by postal contracting specialists to determine which organizations may be able to provide the goods and/or services in a solicitation process.

What happens if my organization is disapproved in the registration process?

A registration entry may be disapproved if information is missing or inaccurate.  The USPS eSourcing Administrator will determine what information is missing and/or inaccurate and subsequently send the disapproved organization’s supplier application manager (SAM) an e-mail requesting the information be provided in an e-mail response so USPS may proceed with the registration approval process.

The registration may also be disapproved if it is deemed a duplicate entry.  A duplicate entry is one where another person in the supplier organization previously registered the organization.  Although the disapproved entry may be located somewhere other than where the original registering organization is located, it will be deemed a duplicate if the DUNS number is identical.  Should this happen, the USPS eSourcing Administrator will notify the disapproved person via e-mail, providing the approved Supplier Application Manager’s e-mail address and phone number.  The disapproved person should contact the SAM to be added to the organization’s account.

Can there be more than one Supplier Application Manager for an organization?

Yes; the original Supplier Application Manager can add and approve other organization users as supplier application managers as well as supplier agents.