83_FR_986 83 FR 980 - eInduction Option, Seamless Acceptance Program, and Full-Service Automation Option, Verification Standards

83 FR 980 - eInduction Option, Seamless Acceptance Program, and Full-Service Automation Option, Verification Standards

POSTAL SERVICE

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 6 (January 9, 2018)

Page Range980-982
FR Document2018-00005

The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]), to add verification standards for the eInduction Option, Seamless Acceptance Program, and Full-Service Automation Option.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 6 (Tuesday, January 9, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 9, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 980-982]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00005]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


eInduction Option, Seamless Acceptance Program, and Full-Service 
Automation Option, Verification Standards

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]), to add 
verification standards for the eInduction Option, Seamless Acceptance 
Program, and Full-Service Automation Option.

DATES: Effective: March 5, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Dyer at (207) 482-7217, or 
Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking on October 31, 2017, (82 FR 50346-50348) to add the 
verification standards for the eInduction Option, Seamless Acceptance 
Program, and Full-Service Automation Option, which included a 30-day 
comment period.
    The Postal Service received 2 formal responses on the proposed 
rule, both of which included multiple comments.

Comments From the First Responder

    Comment: When measuring compliance against the ``active version of 
the Mail Direction File'' during eInduction verifications, does a 30-
day grace period apply?
    Response: Yes. The effective Mail Direction File (MDF) is 
distributed among the industry and PostalOne! applications at the 
beginning of each month to ensure valid container entry acceptance. 
Each effective MDF also observes a 30 day grace period allowing 
consumers to confirm mail prepared for the subsequent mailing period. 
For mail that is prepared in the current mailing period, the effective 
MDF will provide a source of valid entry facilities that will accept 
mail within the prepared mailing period. For mail that is prepared in 
the subsequent mailing period, the effective MDF's grace period 
observations will provide a source of valid entry facilities that will 
accept mail with the prepared mailing period. At this time the USPS 
does not plan on changing any system processes with regards to logging 
errors for eInduction. If mailers believe that invalid errors are being 
logged they may be researched through the review process.
    Comment: The Postal Service should consider removing eInduction 
assessment on undocumented containers for mailers that do not 
participate in Seamless Acceptance.
    Response: At this time, the USPS does not plan on changing any 
system processes, including postage assessment for eInduction. If 
mailers believe that they have proof of payment for a container that 
received an undocumented error they may request a review.

Comments From the Second Responder

    Comment: In reviewing the proposed DMM updates, there are several 
documents that are cross-referenced; these documents are not up to 
date.
    Response: The recommended changes to USPS Publication 685 have been 
noted and will be addressed through a separate forum. Changes to DMM 
Section 602.5.2 were published in the Address Quality Census 
Measurement and Assessment Process final rule of October 24, 2017 (82 
FR 49123-49128), and take effect on January 21, 2018. The USPS is 
working to update ``Publication 804--Drop Shipment Procedures for 
Destination Entry'' and ``Guide for Streamlined Mail Acceptance for 
Letters and Flats Reporting.''
    Comment: We disagree with the method USPS has adopted to assess 
additional postage charged for logical mailers in the Full-Service 
Intelligent Mail program. Please explain why the method is not 
consistent across all Streamlined programs.
    Response: At this time the USPS does not plan on changing the Full-
Service assessment process for logical mailings. If a mailer is able to 
provide documentation supporting a reduction in assessment due to 
evidence of physical mailings during the review process it will be 
taken into consideration.
    Comment: The Appeals Process outlined in the DMM Section 604.10.1.2 
does not appear to be consistent with the process outlined in 
Publication 685.
    Response: The Appeals Process for the eInduction, Full-Service, and 
Seamless Acceptance, programs are outlined in Section 6-3.3.3 PCSC 
Appeals of Publication 685. These programs are not covered by the 
timeline outlined in DMM Section 604.10.1.2. Mailers should work with 
their assessment reviewer to discuss the findings of the review and 
what type of documentation will be needed to file an appeal.
    Comment: We have outlined the differences between the DMM and 
Publication 685; please utilize the same language for consistency.
    Response: For each difference noted, changes to the DMM sections 
were made when applicable and appropriate. The recommended changes to 
Publication 685 have been noted and will be addressed through a 
separate forum.
    In addition, the second responder had numerous comments that were 
determined to be beyond the scope of this final rule. The Postal 
Service will review and address these comments in a separate forum with 
the responder.
    The Postal Service is amending DMM sections 705.20, eInduction 
Option, 705.22, Seamless Acceptance Program, and 705.23, Full-Service 
Automation Option, to add the applicable verification descriptions, 
error thresholds, and postage assessments, standards. These standards 
have been made available to the public via Publication 685, Publication 
for Streamlined Mail Acceptance for Letters and Flats, available at 
https://postalpro.usps.com, which also contains additional information 
on the verification processes.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

    The Postal Service adopts the following changes to Mailing 
Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual 
(DMM),

[[Page 981]]

incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 
CFR 111.1.
    Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is amended as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-
1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 
3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001.


0
2. Revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, 
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail 
Manual (DMM)

* * * * *

700 Special Standards

* * * * *

705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems

* * * * *

20.0 eInduction Option

20.1 Description

    [Revise the fourth sentence of 20.1 to read as follows:]
    * * * For additional information on the eInduction Option see 
Publication 685, Publication for Streamlined Mail Acceptance for 
Letters and Flats, available at https://postalpro.usps.com.
* * * * *
    [Add new subsection 20.5, Verifications, to read as follows:]

20.5 Verifications

    The six eInduction option verification descriptions, error 
thresholds, and postage assessments, are provided in 20.5.1 through 
20.5.6.

20.5.1 Undocumented (Extra) Containers Verification

    An Undocumented Container error occurs when a scanned IMcb is not 
found in an eDoc, or is included in an eDoc and associated to a postage 
statement in estimated (EST) status. Containers will be flagged as 
Undocumented 10 days after the scan unload date/time if no eDoc has 
been uploaded or if the postage statement is still in EST status. The 
threshold is 0%. All errors will be subject to an assessment amount of 
the average postage paid for each container mailed by the eDoc 
submitter CRID over the current invoice period to the eDoc submitter 
CRID or CRID tied to the MID contained within the IMcb.

20.5.2 Payment Verification

    All containers must be linked to a finalized postage statement in 
eInduction to verify payment. The error threshold is 0%. Payment 
Verification errors are logged when a scanned and accepted eInduction 
container is associated with a postage statement that is not in FIN or 
FPP status at the time of scanning. Containers above the error 
threshold will be subject to an assessment amount equal to the 
containers eDoc postage amount as indicated on the non-finalized 
postage statements. For Payment Errors logged on physical siblings of 
logical containers, the full postage of the logical container is 
charged to the first physical sibling container scanned. Any additional 
scans among other physical siblings will log errors, but will not 
result in an additional charge. Assessments will be logged against the 
eDoc submitter CRID.

20.5.3 Duplicate Verification

    eInduction requires IMcbs to remain unique for 45 days. The error 
threshold is 0.17%. Duplicate errors are logged when an IMcb is scanned 
and accepted during more than one FAST appointment in the previous 45 
days. Duplicate Errors are not logged if the duplicate scans take place 
within 5 hours of the original container scan. Errors above the 
threshold are subject to an assessment amount equal to the average 
postage paid for each container mailed by the eDoc submitter CRID over 
the invoice period.

20.5.4 Misshipped Verification

    Containers claiming a destination entry discount must be delivered 
to the correct entry locations per the active version of the Mail 
Direction File. The Mail Direction File is active at the beginning of 
the month and includes a 30 day grace period into the following month. 
The error threshold is 1.05%. Misshipped errors are logged when the 
container is scanned at an incorrect entry location, per the Mail 
Direction File. Errors over the threshold are subject to an assessment 
amount equal to the difference between the eDoc postage claimed, and 
the correct postage amount for the container. For misshipped errors 
logged against physical siblings of logical containers, postage is 
recalculated on the logical container, and divided by the number of 
physical siblings. This amount is then applied to each physical sibling 
in error to the eDoc submitter CRID.

20.5.5 Zone Discount Verification

    Pieces claiming a Zone Discount must be entered at the valid 
facility. The error threshold is 0.01%. Zone Discount errors are logged 
when one or more pieces on a container claim a lower entry zone than 
the zone calculated between the location where the container was 
entered, and the eDoc destination. Errors above the threshold are 
subject to an assessment amount equal to the difference between the 
eDoc postage claimed, and the correct postage amount for the container. 
For containers claiming a non-numeric Zone Discount in the eDoc, 
correct postage amount is calculated using the piece rate for the Entry 
Discount that is valid at the actual entry point for the mail class, 
shape, weight, mail prep, and presort identified in the eDoc. For Zone 
Discount errors logged against physical siblings of logical containers, 
postage is recalculated on the logical container, and divided by the 
number of physical siblings. This amount is then applied to each 
physical sibling in error to the eDoc submitter CRID.

20.5.6 Entry Point Discount (EPD) Verification

    eInduction pieces are required to be entered at a valid facility 
when claiming a destination entry discount. The error threshold is 
0.5%. EPD errors are logged when one or more pieces on a container 
claim an entry discount level that is not available at the location 
where the container was entered. Errors above threshold are subject to 
an assessment amount equal to the difference between the eDoc postage 
claimed and the correct postage amount for the container. For EPD 
errors logged against physical siblings of logical containers, postage 
is recalculated on the logical container, and divided by the number of 
physical siblings. This amount is then applied to each physical sibling 
in error to the eDoc submitter CRID.
* * * * *

22.0 Seamless Acceptance Program

22.1 Description

    [Revise the second sentence of 22.1 to read as follows:]
    * * * For additional information, on the Seamless Acceptance 
Program see Publication 685, Publication for Streamlined Mail 
Acceptance for Letters and Flats, available at https://postalpro.usps.com.
* * * * *
    [Add new subsection 22.4, Verifications, to read as follows:]

22.4 Verifications

    The five seamless acceptance program verification descriptions, 
error thresholds, and postage assessments, are provided in 22.4.1 
through 22.4.5.

[[Page 982]]

22.4.1 Undocumented (Piece) Verification

    An Undocumented error is logged when the IMb gathered during 
sampling or MPE scan cannot be linked to any eDoc submitted within the 
last 45 days. The error threshold is 0.3%. Pieces above the error 
threshold will be subject to an assessment amount equal to the average 
piece rate by mail class and CRID for the assessment month.

22.4.2 Delivery Point Verification

    A valid delivery point must be provided in the piece IMb. The error 
threshold is 2%. Delivery Point errors are logged when the delivery 
point provided in the eDoc is either not valid, or contains a generic 
+4 information with an address record type that is not General 
Delivery. Errors above the threshold are subject to an assessment 
amount equal to difference between the eDoc piece postage and correct 
postage amount.

22.4.3 Nesting/Sortation (MPE) Verification

    A Nesting/Sortation error is logged when the piece scanned is 
nested in a different tray or bundle than the tray or bundle that was 
identified in the eDoc. The error threshold is 1%. Errors above this 
threshold are subject to an assessment amount equal to the difference 
between the eDoc piece postage and the correct postage amount.

22.4.4 General Postage Adjustment Factor Verification

    The Postage Adjustment Factor (PAF) is a method to apply an error 
rate determined from handheld scanner samplings to the entire 
population of mailings within a calendar month. PAF is calculated on a 
monthly basis and measures the difference between the correct postage 
and the postage paid, expressed as a ratio of the correct postage due 
to the sum of eDoc postage for the sampled pieces. General PAF is used 
for errors in Postage and Weight verifications. The General PAF 
threshold factor is 1.05 (5%). A mailer will only be subject to an 
assessment when the eDoc submitter has exceeded the PAF threshold in 
the current billing month and three or more times in the previous 11 
billing months. The General PAF is applied to the total monthly eDoc 
postage for the eDoc submitter and assessments are issued to the eDoc 
submitter.

22.4.5 Mail Characteristic Postage Adjustment Factor Verification

    The Mail Characteristic, Postage Adjustment Factor (PAF), is used 
for errors in the processing category, mail class, nonprofit 
eligibility and content. The threshold factor is 1.05 (5%). A mailer 
will only be subject to an assessment when the eDoc submitter has 
exceeded the Mail Characteristic PAF threshold in the current billing 
month and three or more times in the previous 11 billing months. The 
Mail Characteristic PAF is applied at the eDoc Submitter CRID level and 
is calculated using the adjusted and eDoc postage attributed to the 
Mail Owner.
* * * * *

23.0 Full-Service Automation Option

23.1 Description

    [Revise the second sentence of 23.1 to read as follows:]
    * * * For additional information on the full-service automation 
option see Publication 685, Publication for Streamlined Mail Acceptance 
for Letters and Flats, available on PostalPro at http://postalpro.usps.com.
* * * * *
    [Add new subsection 23.6, Verifications, to read as follows:]

23.6 Verifications

    The six full-service verification descriptions, error thresholds, 
and postage assessments, are provided in 23.6.1 through 23.6.6.

23.6.1 Mailer Identification (MID) Verification

    The MID is a six- or nine-digit code included in the Intelligent 
Mail barcode suite, allowing identification of the party responsible 
for a mailpiece, handling unit, or container. A valid MID is one that 
is registered within the Postal Service systems and provided in the 
eDoc. The error threshold is 2% for the piece, handling unit, and 
container level. Errors over the threshold will be subject to an 
assessment amount equal to the removal of the full-service discount 
claimed for each piece in error above the threshold.

23.6.2 Service Type ID (STID) Verification

    The STID is a three-digit code included in the IMb for a mailpiece 
to provide mail class and service level. The error threshold is 2%. 
Errors over the threshold will be subject to an assessment amount equal 
to the removal of the full-service discount claimed for each piece in 
error above the threshold.

23.6.3 By/For Verification

    The By/For relationship recognizes the Mail Owner and Mail Service 
Provider in the eDoc. The error threshold is 5%. An error occurs when a 
valid Mail Preparer is not identified, a valid Mail Owner is not 
identified, Mail Preparer is incorrectly recorded as the Mail Owner, or 
the Mail Owner was previously identified as the Mail Preparer. Errors 
above the threshold are subject to an assessment amount equal to the 
removal of the full-service discount claimed for each piece in error 
above the threshold.

23.6.4 Barcode Uniqueness Verification

    Barcode uniqueness is met when a barcode is unique across all 
mailers and mailings for 45 days. The error threshold is 2%. Errors 
occur when the IMcb, IMtb or IMb is not unique across all mailings from 
all mailers over the previous 45 days of the Postage Statement Mailing 
Date that was provided in the eDoc. Errors above the threshold are 
subject to an assessment equal to the removal of the full-service 
discount claimed for each piece in error above the threshold.

23.6.5 Entry Facility Verification

    The entry facility location must be identified in the eDoc by a 
Locale Key or ZIP Code. The error threshold is 2%. Errors above the 
threshold are subject to an assessment amount of the full-service 
discount claimed for each piece in error above the threshold.

23.6.6 Unlinked Copal Verification

    Mailings that will be copalletized must be identified in the 
original eDoc submission. It is a requirement that the consolidator 
provide documentation within 14 days of the mailing date of the 
original eDoc to properly identify the linkage of the trays or sacks to 
the container. The error threshold is 5%. Errors above the threshold 
are subject to an assessment amount equal to the full-service discount 
claimed.
* * * * *
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to 
reflect these changes.

Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2018-00005 Filed 1-8-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P



                                                980                 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 9, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                                   (3) In the absence of a Medicare fee                 Comments From the First Responder                      Mail program. Please explain why the
                                                schedule rate for the emergency                            Comment: When measuring                             method is not consistent across all
                                                treatment, VA payment will be the                       compliance against the ‘‘active version                Streamlined programs.
                                                lesser of the amount for which the                      of the Mail Direction File’’ during                       Response: At this time the USPS does
                                                veteran is personally liable or the                     eInduction verifications, does a 30-day                not plan on changing the Full-Service
                                                amount calculated by the VA Fee                         grace period apply?                                    assessment process for logical mailings.
                                                Schedule in § 17.56 (a)(2)(i)(B).                          Response: Yes. The effective Mail                   If a mailer is able to provide
                                                   (4) Unless rejected and refunded by                  Direction File (MDF) is distributed                    documentation supporting a reduction
                                                the provider within 30 days from the                    among the industry and PostalOne!                      in assessment due to evidence of
                                                date of receipt, the provider will                      applications at the beginning of each                  physical mailings during the review
                                                consider VA’s payment made under                        month to ensure valid container entry                  process it will be taken into
                                                paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3) of this            acceptance. Each effective MDF also                    consideration.
                                                section as payment in full and                          observes a 30 day grace period allowing                   Comment: The Appeals Process
                                                extinguish the veteran’s liability to the               consumers to confirm mail prepared for                 outlined in the DMM Section 604.10.1.2
                                                provider. (Neither the absence of a                     the subsequent mailing period. For mail                does not appear to be consistent with
                                                contract or agreement between the                       that is prepared in the current mailing                the process outlined in Publication 685.
                                                Secretary and the provider nor any                      period, the effective MDF will provide                    Response: The Appeals Process for
                                                provision of a contract, agreement, or                  a source of valid entry facilities that will           the eInduction, Full-Service, and
                                                assignment to the contrary shall operate                accept mail within the prepared mailing                Seamless Acceptance, programs are
                                                to modify, limit, or negate the                         period. For mail that is prepared in the               outlined in Section 6–3.3.3 PCSC
                                                requirement in the preceding sentence.)                 subsequent mailing period, the effective               Appeals of Publication 685. These
                                                   (5) VA will not reimburse a veteran                  MDF’s grace period observations will                   programs are not covered by the
                                                under this section for any copayment,                   provide a source of valid entry facilities             timeline outlined in DMM Section
                                                deductible, coinsurance, or similar                     that will accept mail with the prepared                604.10.1.2. Mailers should work with
                                                payment that the veteran owes the third                 mailing period. At this time the USPS                  their assessment reviewer to discuss the
                                                party or is obligated to pay under a                    does not plan on changing any system                   findings of the review and what type of
                                                health-plan contract.                                   processes with regards to logging errors               documentation will be needed to file an
                                                                                                        for eInduction. If mailers believe that                appeal.
                                                *      *     *    *     *
                                                [FR Doc. 2018–00232 Filed 1–8–18; 8:45 am]              invalid errors are being logged they may                  Comment: We have outlined the
                                                                                                        be researched through the review                       differences between the DMM and
                                                BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
                                                                                                        process.                                               Publication 685; please utilize the same
                                                                                                           Comment: The Postal Service should                  language for consistency.
                                                                                                        consider removing eInduction                              Response: For each difference noted,
                                                POSTAL SERVICE                                          assessment on undocumented                             changes to the DMM sections were
                                                                                                        containers for mailers that do not                     made when applicable and appropriate.
                                                39 CFR Part 111                                         participate in Seamless Acceptance.                    The recommended changes to
                                                                                                           Response: At this time, the USPS does               Publication 685 have been noted and
                                                eInduction Option, Seamless                             not plan on changing any system                        will be addressed through a separate
                                                Acceptance Program, and Full-Service                    processes, including postage assessment                forum.
                                                Automation Option, Verification                         for eInduction. If mailers believe that                   In addition, the second responder had
                                                Standards                                               they have proof of payment for a                       numerous comments that were
                                                                                                        container that received an                             determined to be beyond the scope of
                                                AGENCY:  Postal ServiceTM.                                                                                     this final rule. The Postal Service will
                                                                                                        undocumented error they may request a
                                                ACTION: Final rule.                                     review.                                                review and address these comments in
                                                                                                                                                               a separate forum with the responder.
                                                SUMMARY:   The Postal Service is                        Comments From the Second Responder                        The Postal Service is amending DMM
                                                amending Mailing Standards of the                         Comment: In reviewing the proposed                   sections 705.20, eInduction Option,
                                                United States Postal Service, Domestic                  DMM updates, there are several                         705.22, Seamless Acceptance Program,
                                                Mail Manual (DMM®), to add                              documents that are cross-referenced;                   and 705.23, Full-Service Automation
                                                verification standards for the eInduction               these documents are not up to date.                    Option, to add the applicable
                                                Option, Seamless Acceptance Program,                      Response: The recommended changes                    verification descriptions, error
                                                and Full-Service Automation Option.                     to USPS Publication 685 have been                      thresholds, and postage assessments,
                                                DATES:   Effective: March 5, 2018.                      noted and will be addressed through a                  standards. These standards have been
                                                                                                        separate forum. Changes to DMM                         made available to the public via
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                                                               Publication 685, Publication for
                                                                                                        Section 602.5.2 were published in the
                                                Heather Dyer at (207) 482–7217, or                                                                             Streamlined Mail Acceptance for Letters
                                                                                                        Address Quality Census Measurement
                                                Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268–7281.                                                                             and Flats, available at https://
                                                                                                        and Assessment Process final rule of
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:    The Postal                October 24, 2017 (82 FR 49123–49128),                  postalpro.usps.com, which also
                                                Service published a notice of proposed                  and take effect on January 21, 2018. The               contains additional information on the
                                                rulemaking on October 31, 2017, (82 FR                  USPS is working to update ‘‘Publication                verification processes.
                                                50346–50348) to add the verification                    804—Drop Shipment Procedures for                       List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with RULES




                                                standards for the eInduction Option,                    Destination Entry’’ and ‘‘Guide for
                                                Seamless Acceptance Program, and                        Streamlined Mail Acceptance for Letters                  Administrative practice and
                                                Full-Service Automation Option, which                   and Flats Reporting.’’                                 procedure, Postal Service.
                                                included a 30-day comment period.                         Comment: We disagree with the                          The Postal Service adopts the
                                                  The Postal Service received 2 formal                  method USPS has adopted to assess                      following changes to Mailing Standards
                                                responses on the proposed rule, both of                 additional postage charged for logical                 of the United States Postal Service,
                                                which included multiple comments.                       mailers in the Full-Service Intelligent                Domestic Mail Manual (DMM),


                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014   14:57 Jan 08, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00010   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\09JAR1.SGM   09JAR1


                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 9, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                            981

                                                incorporated by reference in the Code of                20.5.2 Payment Verification                            threshold is 0.01%. Zone Discount
                                                Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1.                     All containers must be linked to a                  errors are logged when one or more
                                                  Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is                       finalized postage statement in                         pieces on a container claim a lower
                                                amended as follows:                                     eInduction to verify payment. The error                entry zone than the zone calculated
                                                                                                        threshold is 0%. Payment Verification                  between the location where the
                                                PART 111—[AMENDED]                                      errors are logged when a scanned and                   container was entered, and the eDoc
                                                                                                        accepted eInduction container is                       destination. Errors above the threshold
                                                ■ 1. The authority citation for 39 CFR                                                                         are subject to an assessment amount
                                                part 111 continues to read as follows:                  associated with a postage statement that
                                                                                                        is not in FIN or FPP status at the time                equal to the difference between the eDoc
                                                  Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301–            of scanning. Containers above the error                postage claimed, and the correct postage
                                                307; 18 U.S.C. 1692–1737; 39 U.S.C. 101,                threshold will be subject to an                        amount for the container. For containers
                                                401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001–3011, 3201–                                                                      claiming a non-numeric Zone Discount
                                                                                                        assessment amount equal to the
                                                3219, 3403–3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632,                                                                       in the eDoc, correct postage amount is
                                                3633, and 5001.                                         containers eDoc postage amount as
                                                                                                        indicated on the non-finalized postage                 calculated using the piece rate for the
                                                ■2. Revise the Mailing Standards of the                 statements. For Payment Errors logged                  Entry Discount that is valid at the actual
                                                United States Postal Service, Domestic                  on physical siblings of logical                        entry point for the mail class, shape,
                                                Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:                           containers, the full postage of the logical            weight, mail prep, and presort identified
                                                                                                        container is charged to the first physical             in the eDoc. For Zone Discount errors
                                                Mailing Standards of the United States
                                                                                                        sibling container scanned. Any                         logged against physical siblings of
                                                Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual
                                                                                                        additional scans among other physical                  logical containers, postage is
                                                (DMM)
                                                                                                        siblings will log errors, but will not                 recalculated on the logical container,
                                                *      *     *       *      *                           result in an additional charge.                        and divided by the number of physical
                                                700    Special Standards                                Assessments will be logged against the                 siblings. This amount is then applied to
                                                                                                        eDoc submitter CRID.                                   each physical sibling in error to the
                                                *      *     *       *      *                                                                                  eDoc submitter CRID.
                                                                                                        20.5.3 Duplicate Verification
                                                705 Advanced Preparation and                                                                                   20.5.6 Entry Point Discount (EPD)
                                                Special Postage Payment Systems                            eInduction requires IMcbs to remain
                                                                                                        unique for 45 days. The error threshold                Verification
                                                *      *     *       *      *                           is 0.17%. Duplicate errors are logged                    eInduction pieces are required to be
                                                20.0    eInduction Option                               when an IMcb is scanned and accepted                   entered at a valid facility when claiming
                                                                                                        during more than one FAST                              a destination entry discount. The error
                                                20.1    Description                                     appointment in the previous 45 days.                   threshold is 0.5%. EPD errors are logged
                                                  [Revise the fourth sentence of 20.1 to                Duplicate Errors are not logged if the                 when one or more pieces on a container
                                                read as follows:]                                       duplicate scans take place within 5                    claim an entry discount level that is not
                                                  * * * For additional information on                   hours of the original container scan.                  available at the location where the
                                                the eInduction Option see Publication                   Errors above the threshold are subject to              container was entered. Errors above
                                                685, Publication for Streamlined Mail                   an assessment amount equal to the                      threshold are subject to an assessment
                                                Acceptance for Letters and Flats,                       average postage paid for each container                amount equal to the difference between
                                                available at https://postalpro.usps.com.                mailed by the eDoc submitter CRID over                 the eDoc postage claimed and the
                                                                                                        the invoice period.                                    correct postage amount for the
                                                *     *     *     *    *
                                                                                                        20.5.4 Misshipped Verification                         container. For EPD errors logged against
                                                  [Add new subsection 20.5,
                                                                                                                                                               physical siblings of logical containers,
                                                Verifications, to read as follows:]                       Containers claiming a destination                    postage is recalculated on the logical
                                                20.5    Verifications                                   entry discount must be delivered to the                container, and divided by the number of
                                                                                                        correct entry locations per the active                 physical siblings. This amount is then
                                                  The six eInduction option verification                version of the Mail Direction File. The
                                                descriptions, error thresholds, and                                                                            applied to each physical sibling in error
                                                                                                        Mail Direction File is active at the                   to the eDoc submitter CRID.
                                                postage assessments, are provided in                    beginning of the month and includes a
                                                20.5.1 through 20.5.6.                                                                                         *     *     *     *     *
                                                                                                        30 day grace period into the following
                                                20.5.1 Undocumented (Extra)                             month. The error threshold is 1.05%.                   22.0    Seamless Acceptance Program
                                                Containers Verification                                 Misshipped errors are logged when the                  22.1 Description
                                                                                                        container is scanned at an incorrect
                                                   An Undocumented Container error                      entry location, per the Mail Direction                   [Revise the second sentence of 22.1 to
                                                occurs when a scanned IMcb is not                       File. Errors over the threshold are                    read as follows:]
                                                found in an eDoc, or is included in an                  subject to an assessment amount equal                    * * * For additional information, on
                                                eDoc and associated to a postage                        to the difference between the eDoc                     the Seamless Acceptance Program see
                                                statement in estimated (EST) status.                    postage claimed, and the correct postage               Publication 685, Publication for
                                                Containers will be flagged as                           amount for the container. For                          Streamlined Mail Acceptance for Letters
                                                Undocumented 10 days after the scan                     misshipped errors logged against                       and Flats, available at https://
                                                unload date/time if no eDoc has been                    physical siblings of logical containers,               postalpro.usps.com.
                                                uploaded or if the postage statement is                 postage is recalculated on the logical                 *     *     *     *    *
                                                still in EST status. The threshold is 0%.               container, and divided by the number of                  [Add new subsection 22.4,
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with RULES




                                                All errors will be subject to an                        physical siblings. This amount is then                 Verifications, to read as follows:]
                                                assessment amount of the average                        applied to each physical sibling in error
                                                postage paid for each container mailed                                                                         22.4 Verifications
                                                                                                        to the eDoc submitter CRID.
                                                by the eDoc submitter CRID over the                                                                              The five seamless acceptance program
                                                current invoice period to the eDoc                      20.5.5 Zone Discount Verification                      verification descriptions, error
                                                submitter CRID or CRID tied to the MID                    Pieces claiming a Zone Discount must                 thresholds, and postage assessments, are
                                                contained within the IMcb.                              be entered at the valid facility. The error            provided in 22.4.1 through 22.4.5.


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                                                982                 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 9, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                                22.4.1 Undocumented (Piece)                             class, nonprofit eligibility and content.              a valid Mail Owner is not identified,
                                                Verification                                            The threshold factor is 1.05 (5%). A                   Mail Preparer is incorrectly recorded as
                                                  An Undocumented error is logged                       mailer will only be subject to an                      the Mail Owner, or the Mail Owner was
                                                when the IMb gathered during sampling                   assessment when the eDoc submitter                     previously identified as the Mail
                                                or MPE scan cannot be linked to any                     has exceeded the Mail Characteristic                   Preparer. Errors above the threshold are
                                                eDoc submitted within the last 45 days.                 PAF threshold in the current billing                   subject to an assessment amount equal
                                                The error threshold is 0.3%. Pieces                     month and three or more times in the                   to the removal of the full-service
                                                above the error threshold will be subject               previous 11 billing months. The Mail                   discount claimed for each piece in error
                                                to an assessment amount equal to the                    Characteristic PAF is applied at the                   above the threshold.
                                                average piece rate by mail class and                    eDoc Submitter CRID level and is
                                                CRID for the assessment month.                          calculated using the adjusted and eDoc                 23.6.4 Barcode Uniqueness
                                                                                                        postage attributed to the Mail Owner.                  Verification
                                                22.4.2 Delivery Point Verification
                                                                                                        *     *    *     *      *
                                                  A valid delivery point must be                                                                                  Barcode uniqueness is met when a
                                                provided in the piece IMb. The error                    23.0     Full-Service Automation Option                barcode is unique across all mailers and
                                                threshold is 2%. Delivery Point errors                  23.1     Description                                   mailings for 45 days. The error
                                                are logged when the delivery point                                                                             threshold is 2%. Errors occur when the
                                                                                                          [Revise the second sentence of 23.1 to               IMcb, IMtb or IMb is not unique across
                                                provided in the eDoc is either not valid,
                                                                                                        read as follows:]                                      all mailings from all mailers over the
                                                or contains a generic +4 information
                                                                                                          * * * For additional information on                  previous 45 days of the Postage
                                                with an address record type that is not
                                                                                                        the full-service automation option see
                                                General Delivery. Errors above the                                                                             Statement Mailing Date that was
                                                                                                        Publication 685, Publication for
                                                threshold are subject to an assessment                                                                         provided in the eDoc. Errors above the
                                                                                                        Streamlined Mail Acceptance for Letters
                                                amount equal to difference between the                                                                         threshold are subject to an assessment
                                                                                                        and Flats, available on PostalPro at
                                                eDoc piece postage and correct postage                                                                         equal to the removal of the full-service
                                                                                                        http://postalpro.usps.com.
                                                amount.                                                                                                        discount claimed for each piece in error
                                                                                                        *     *     *     *    *
                                                22.4.3 Nesting/Sortation (MPE)                                                                                 above the threshold.
                                                                                                          [Add new subsection 23.6,
                                                Verification                                            Verifications, to read as follows:]                    23.6.5    Entry Facility Verification
                                                  A Nesting/Sortation error is logged                   23.6     Verifications
                                                when the piece scanned is nested in a                                                                            The entry facility location must be
                                                different tray or bundle than the tray or                 The six full-service verification                    identified in the eDoc by a Locale Key
                                                bundle that was identified in the eDoc.                 descriptions, error thresholds, and                    or ZIP Code. The error threshold is 2%.
                                                The error threshold is 1%. Errors above                 postage assessments, are provided in                   Errors above the threshold are subject to
                                                this threshold are subject to an                        23.6.1 through 23.6.6.                                 an assessment amount of the full-service
                                                assessment amount equal to the                          23.6.1 Mailer Identification (MID)                     discount claimed for each piece in error
                                                difference between the eDoc piece                       Verification                                           above the threshold.
                                                postage and the correct postage amount.
                                                                                                           The MID is a six- or nine-digit code                23.6.6    Unlinked Copal Verification
                                                22.4.4 General Postage Adjustment                       included in the Intelligent Mail barcode
                                                Factor Verification                                     suite, allowing identification of the                     Mailings that will be copalletized
                                                   The Postage Adjustment Factor (PAF)                  party responsible for a mailpiece,                     must be identified in the original eDoc
                                                is a method to apply an error rate                      handling unit, or container. A valid MID               submission. It is a requirement that the
                                                determined from handheld scanner                        is one that is registered within the                   consolidator provide documentation
                                                samplings to the entire population of                   Postal Service systems and provided in                 within 14 days of the mailing date of the
                                                mailings within a calendar month. PAF                   the eDoc. The error threshold is 2% for                original eDoc to properly identify the
                                                is calculated on a monthly basis and                    the piece, handling unit, and container                linkage of the trays or sacks to the
                                                measures the difference between the                     level. Errors over the threshold will be               container. The error threshold is 5%.
                                                correct postage and the postage paid,                   subject to an assessment amount equal                  Errors above the threshold are subject to
                                                expressed as a ratio of the correct                     to the removal of the full-service                     an assessment amount equal to the full-
                                                postage due to the sum of eDoc postage                  discount claimed for each piece in error               service discount claimed.
                                                for the sampled pieces. General PAF is                  above the threshold.                                   *     *     *     *     *
                                                used for errors in Postage and Weight
                                                                                                        23.6.2 Service Type ID (STID)                             We will publish an appropriate
                                                verifications. The General PAF
                                                                                                        Verification                                           amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to reflect
                                                threshold factor is 1.05 (5%). A mailer
                                                will only be subject to an assessment                     The STID is a three-digit code                       these changes.
                                                when the eDoc submitter has exceeded                    included in the IMb for a mailpiece to                 Stanley F. Mires,
                                                the PAF threshold in the current billing                provide mail class and service level.
                                                                                                                                                               Attorney, Federal Compliance.
                                                month and three or more times in the                    The error threshold is 2%. Errors over
                                                                                                                                                               [FR Doc. 2018–00005 Filed 1–8–18; 8:45 am]
                                                previous 11 billing months. The General                 the threshold will be subject to an
                                                PAF is applied to the total monthly                     assessment amount equal to the removal                 BILLING CODE 7710–12–P

                                                eDoc postage for the eDoc submitter and                 of the full-service discount claimed for
                                                assessments are issued to the eDoc                      each piece in error above the threshold.
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with RULES




                                                submitter.                                              23.6.3     By/For Verification
                                                22.4.5 Mail Characteristic Postage                        The By/For relationship recognizes
                                                Adjustment Factor Verification                          the Mail Owner and Mail Service
                                                  The Mail Characteristic, Postage                      Provider in the eDoc. The error
                                                Adjustment Factor (PAF), is used for                    threshold is 5%. An error occurs when
                                                errors in the processing category, mail                 a valid Mail Preparer is not identified,


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Document Created: 2018-01-09 02:18:52
Document Modified: 2018-01-09 02:18:52
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesEffective: March 5, 2018.
ContactHeather Dyer at (207) 482-7217, or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.
FR Citation83 FR 980 
CFR AssociatedAdministrative Practice and Procedure and Postal Service

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