Quick Service Guide 340c
Discount Flats Standard Mail
Enhanced Carrier Route—Flats

January 2006
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Related QSG

703, Standard Mail Nonprofit Eligibility

Physical Standards (301)

Maximum weight: less than 16 ounces.
For an overview of the physical standards for discount flats, see Quick Service Guide 301.

Rates and Fees (343.1)

Presort Level Regular Nonprofit For pieces weighing 3.3 ounces (0.2063 pounds) or less: Basic $0.204 $0.140 High Density 0.178 0.122 Saturation 0.169 0.166 For pieces weighing more than 3.3 ounces (0.2063 pounds): Per piece rates: Basic $0.071 $0.055 High Density 0.045 0.037 Saturation 0.036 0.031 PLUS per pound for all rates: 0.643 0.411

Destination discounts apply to mail prepared as prescribed by USPS and addressed for delivery within service area of destination BMC/ASF, SCF, or delivery unit (346.2).

Annual $160.00 presort mailing fee.

Content (343.2)

Flats containing mailable items not required to be sent using First-Class Mail can be sent using Standard Mail. Standard Mail is typically used for advertisements, flyers, and catalogs. Additional content restrictions must be met for authorized nonprofit mailers (703.1).

Eligibility Standards (343.6)

Mailings of 200 or more addressed pieces (or 50 pounds of addressed pieces), sorted and marked as described below. Pieces must be part of a group of 10 or more to one carrier route, prepared in line-of-travel or walk-sequence order, as required. All pieces must meet the physical standards for enhanced carrier route flats in 301. Pieces are eligible if not required to be mailed at First-Class rates or not eligible for Periodicals rates. Nonprofit rates require specific authorization (703.1).

Each piece must include a complete delivery address with correct ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code, as appropriate.

Carrier route information must be updated using CASS-certified process within 90 days before mailing date.

Detached address labels required for merchandise samples (602.4).

Postage Payment and Documentation (344)

Precanceled stamp (604.3), meter (604.4), or permit imprint (604.5).

Additional standards apply to mailings of nonidentical-weight pieces.

Documentation:

• Postage statement:
  Regular: Form 3602-R.
  Nonprofit: Form 3602-N.
• Supporting documentation: required unless correct rate is affixed to each piece or unless each piece is of identical weight and separated by rate when presented for acceptance; documentation generated by PAVE-certified software (or printed in standardized format).
• Additional documentation to support density standards (345.6).

Mail Preparation (345)

Marking on each piece in the postage area (302.2):

• Regular: "Presorted Standard" or "PRSRT STD."
• Nonprofit: "Nonprofit Organization" or "NONPROFIT ORG." or "NONPROFIT."
• Basic, high-density, and saturation rate pieces must also be marked "ECRLOT," "ECRWSH," or "ECRWSS," respectively, in the correct optional endorsement line under 708.7 or in correct carrier route information line under 708.8, or in the postage area. Pieces in a mailing consisting of bundles claimed at more than one Enhanced Carrier Route rate must bear appropriate marking for rate claimed. Pieces not claimed at corresponding rate must not be included in the mailing and must not bear the "ECRLOT," "ECRWSH," or "ECRWSS" marking. For additional marking standards for carrier route pieces, see 708.8.

Basic rate mail must be in line-of-travel (LOT) or in walk sequence (345.6).

High-density (WSH) and saturation (WSS) rate mail must be in walk sequence (345.6).

Palletization is preferred (see Quick Service Guide 705d).

See reverse for preparation and labeling.

Use standard sack label (345.4).

Enter and Deposit (346)

Mailing entered at an acceptance point designated by USPS.

Bundling and Sacking Sequence Bundle Preparation (345.6) Saturation1 Bundles: 10 or more addressed pieces to same carrier route (city route, rural route, highway contract route, post office box section, or general delivery unit) must be prepared in bundles; fewer than 10 pieces allowed only if route has fewer than 10 delivery stops. Mail must be presented in walk-sequence (343.6.5) and meet density standards. Labels: Use optional endorsement line (OEL) with carrier route description prefix and route number (708.7).3 Rate: Saturation High Density2 Bundles: 10 or more addressed pieces to same carrier route (city route, rural route, highway contract route, post office box section, or general delivery unit) must be prepared in bundles. Mail must be presented in walk-sequence (343.6.4) and meet density standards. Labels: Use OEL with carrier route description prefix and route number (708.7).3 Rate: High Density Basic Bundles: 10 or more addressed pieces to same carrier route (city route, rural route, highway contract route, post office box section, or general delivery unit) must be prepared in bundles. Mail must be presented in line-of-travel or walk- sequence (343.6.3). Labels: Use OEL with carrier route description prefix and route number (708.7).3 Rate: Basic

 

Bundling and Sacking Sequence Sack Preparation Carrier Route Sacks: Required 125 pieces or 15 pounds. Labels: For Line 1, use city, state and 5-digit ZIP Code of destination. For Line 2, use "STD FLTS", and "ECRWSS," "ECRWSH," or "ECRLOT," as applicable, followed by route type and number. 5-Digit Scheme Carrier Routes Sacks: Required, no minimum. Labels: For Line 1, use L001, Column B. For Line 2, use "STD FLTS CR-RTS SCH." 5-Digit Carrier Routes Sacks: Required, no minimum. Labels: For Line 1, use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code of destination. For Line 2, use "STD FLTS CR-RTS."

1. Minimum 90% total active residential or 75% total active deliveries per route (100% if simplified address (343.6.5)).

2. Minimum 125 pieces per route unless route has fewer than 125 deliveries.

3. No facing slip or OEL required if the bundle is placed in a carrier route sack. Bundles in 5-digit/scheme carrier routes sacks must have a facing slip unless the pieces in the bundle show a carrier route information line or an OEL (345.6.4).

4. Use "ECRWSS" for saturation, "ECRWSH" for high density, and "ECRLOT" for basic.

For the specific DMM standards applicable to this category of mail, consult the DMM sections referenced above and the general sections within each DMM module.

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