Association for Postal Commerce
"Representing those who use or support the use
of mail for Business Communication and Commerce"
"You will be able to enjoy
only those postal rights you believe are worth
defending."
1421 Prince St., Ste 410 * Alexandria, VA 22314-2806 * Ph.: +1
703 524 0096 * Fax: +1 703 997 2414
USPS
2011-2012
Network Optimization Initiative
The U.S. Postal Service in August 2011 announced its plans to
pursue an aggressive network optimization initiative that would
result in a significant reduction in processing plants (going
from 508 processing locations today to approximately 200),
changes in service standards and mail entry times, and changes
in mail preparation, transportation and other areas.
Because these changes will have a significant impact on
businesses that use the mail, PostCom has dedicated this area of
its web site to providing information on the initiative and
changes as they occur or are announced by the USPS.
Check back regularly for updates to the
information provided here on the USPS' Network Optimization
Initiative. In addition, PostCom will continue to
provide news coverage on the initiative and changes in its
weekly PostCom Bulletin as
well as its periodic Post Ops Update
publication.
Comments and feedback
on the below information or on this web page are welcome.
The
Nuts
and Bolts of the Proposed Network Changes
- March 19, 2012:
PostCom's
Post Ops Update Issue 02-12 (focus on service standards
changes and network redesign)
- Feb. 23, 2012: Spreadsheet
with status of USPS' AMP studies on processing facilities
being considered for closure/consolidation
- Feb. 23, 2012: Updated
USPS FAQs for Mailers on network redesign
- Dec. 15, 2011: USPS
proposed
rules outlining service standard changs in support of
network optimization (comments due by February 13, 2012)
- Oct. 6, 2011: USPS
network
optimization FAQ documents (General
FAQs and FAQs
for mailers and mailing industry)
- Sept. 21, 2011: USPS
proposed
changes to service standards (Federal Register advance notice -- comments due to USPS by Oct 21,
2011)
- Sept. 15, 2011:
USPS
proposed
facility
AMP studies list (also available: USPS
AMP Study/Gaining Sites List)
- Sept. 15, 2011:
USPS
Network
Changes
FAQ
- Sept. 15, 2011:
USPS
Service
Standards
Changes FAQ
- Sept. 15, 2011:
USPS
advance
notice
of proposed rulemaking, filed at the Federal Register 9/15
for publication; 30-day comment period begins date of
publication in Federal Register
- Sept. 15, 2011:
USPS
Chief
Operating
Officer press briefing presentation on network initiatives
- Sept. 15, 2011:
USPS
Web
site
with Mailer Information
USPS News,
Testimony and Presentations on Network
Optimization
Industry/PostCom News and Information
Feb 13, 2012: Comments
submitted by PostCom in response to the USPS' proposed rules
outlining service standard changs in support of network optimization
October 19, 2011:
Comments
submitted to the USPS by PostCom in response to its advance notice
of proposed rulemaking
October 4, 2011:
USPS
presentation to PostCom Postal Operations Committee on Network
Optimization initiative
August 18, 2011:
MTAC
notes
from
MTAC
industry feedback session on USPS Network Optimization initiative
(questions/concerns raised by MTAC association representatives
during the break out sessions)
August 18, 2011: PostCom
notes
from
MTAC
industry feedback session on USPS Network Optimization initiative
(questions/concerns raised by MTAC association representatives
during the break out sessions)
August 17, 2011:
PostCom
notes
from
USPS'
Network Optimization presentation at MTAC meeting
USPS
Time
Line (with
links to documents as they are released)
Feb 2012 -- Outcome
of AMP studies released by USPS
Dec 2011 -- Proposed
rule published in the Federal
Register (comments due 2/13/12)
Sept 2011 – Advanced
notice
published
in Federal Register:
published 9/21/11; comments due to USPS by Oct 21, 2011
Sept 21, 2011 – PCC Day
Sept 28, 2011 – Industry Association Executives meeting
Oct 2011 – File with Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) / Proposed
rule published
Information on USPS Processing Facility Changes
USPS
Area
Mail
Processing
(AMP) studies. The USPS publishes status reports
and information on its mail processing consolidation/closure
reviews, as well as information which describes the review
process. According to the USPS' August 2011
presentation, it plans to utilize the AMP process for its network
optimization processing facility changes.
USPS
proposed
facility
AMP studies list
USPS
Area Mail Processing (AMP) guidelines (USPS Handbook
PO-408)
Information
on
USPS
Service
Standards
USPS notice of proposed rulemaking on
Service Standards Changes, published in the Federal Register
12/15/11. Comments due to USPS by February 13, 2012.
USPS advance notice of proposed
rulemaking on Service Standards Changes, published in
the Federal Register
9/21/11. Comment due to USPS by October 21, 2011.
Current USPS Service Standards
(origin/destination 3-digit ZIP Code matrices).
Excel
spreadsheets
showing
current USPS service standards by 3-digit ZIP Code
origin/destination and mail product can be found here.
Current USPS Service
Standards -- Final Rule December 2007 (includes business rules
service standards are based on)
USPS Quarterly Service Performance
Reports. The most recently published USPS
service performance reports are posted here by the USPS.
Related Documents and Reports