Improving the Drop Shipment Process MTAC #87 Update

1. Improving the Drop Shipment ProcessMTAC #87Update Washington, D.C. February 2007

2. Agenda • Mailer Rating Review • FAST January Release • May 2007 Release • External Label List System • Next Steps

3. Mailer Rating Review • USPS and MTAC 87 mailers kicked off a 6 week mailer rating review process • So far, mailers have reviewed their appointments and worked to understand the calculations that support the Ratings • In the following weeks, mailers will be reviewing the following areas: • Content accuracy, pre-notification deductions, irregularities, and exceptions • In mid-March, the pilot mailers will utilize FAST with the rating system in a test environment • Pilot Test at specific facilities will follow the CAT test • Communications to mailers not participating in the CAT test will begin • Webinars will describe the rating process • Web Based Training will be updated in March

4. FAST February Release • FAST released enhanced functionality for Standard Mailers. • ASFs have been consolidated into their respective Plant Facility Records. This allows scheduling at a single, FAST-active Facility Record rather than having a separate, FAST-inactive ASF Facility Record. • Bi-Weekly Recurring Appointments will start based on the user request date rather than the approval date to ensure the intended week is scheduled. • Users creating a Recurring Appointment Request without content are warned that their Recurring Appointment Request will not be reviewed until contents are associated. • Two Mail Integrity and Load Irregularities added to Appointment Closeout, “Package on BMC Non-Machinable” and “Overweight Pallets”. These irregularities are currently on PS Forms 8125. • FAST will notify (via email) and adjust Pure Periodicals Recurring Appointments for fluctuations in actual volume and redirections when certain criteria is met (see release notes for specifics).

5. 5/2007 Release • FAST will begin supporting the new IDEAlliance TM Specification in May 2007 • Enhancements include: • Using mail.dat to provide content for recurring appointments • Joint Scheduling via Web Services utilizing Appointment Shell by Scheduler and Delivery Content messages by Mail Owners and Mail Preparers • Ability of Schedulers to query FAST for content information in joint scheduling scenarios • Visibility for Mail Owners and Mail Preparers • Receive redirection warnings via Web Services • Ability to provide the Mailer Placard Barcode when making Web Services appointments without the use of mail.dat • Rate Case changes for mixed loads and Non-Flats Machinable (NFM) • Ability to note if Tandem Trailers are associated with appointment

6. External Label List • USPS will be developing the External Label List Maintenance System to better track and manage Label List data changes. The system will: • Audit, track, and implement a Label List hierarchy to ensure that lower level discounts align to similar ZIP Code ranges as others. Thus avoiding SCF splits across ADCs. • Utilize effective date ranges to enable advance notification of Label List changes to internal and external systems • FAST will be the conduit for mailer inquiries including: • Enhancements to the Mail Direction Report to search by Label List • Validations in appointment scheduling by effective dates for Label changes • Improved file layouts mapping Label List locations to Drop Entry Points

7. Next Steps • Continue CAT and Pilot test for Mailer Rating • Begin communicating Rating process to the rest of the Standard Mail community • Next Workgroup meeting in mid-March