Quick Service Guide 430
Discount Parcels
First-Class Mail—Presorted Parcels

January 2006
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Physical Standards (401)

Maximum weight: 13 ounces.
For an overview of the physical standards for discount parcels, see Quick Service Guide 401.

Rates and Fees (433.1)

1. A $0.058 nonmachinable surcharge may apply.

Annual $160.00 presort mailing fee.

Content (433.2)

First-Class Mail is required for personal correspondence, handwritten or typewritten material, and bills or statements of account. It may also be used for any mailable item including advertisements and lightweight merchandise.

Eligibility Standards (433.3)

Mailings of 500 or more addressed pieces, sorted and marked as described below. All pieces must meet the physical standards for parcels (401).

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

Addresses on all pieces must be updated within 185 days before mailing through a USPS-approved address update method (e.g., ACS, NCOA^Link, FASTforward, or the appropriate ancillary service endorsement under 507.1). For an overview of the First-Class Mail Move Update standard, see Quick Service Guide 230a.

A certified process must be used at least once a year to ensure accuracy of 5-digit ZIP Codes.

Postage Payment and Documentation (434)

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

Additional standards apply to mailings of nonidentical-weight pieces.

Documentation:

• Postage statement: Form 3600-R.
• 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).

Mail Preparation (435)

Marking on each piece in the postage area: "PRESORTED (or PRSRT) FIRST-CLASS." For optional locations, see 402.2.1.

See 435.2 for bundling of parcels up to 1/2 inch thick that exceed any one dimension of flat-size mail (301.2).

See reverse for preparation and labeling.

Enter and Deposit (436)

Mailing entered at an acceptance point designated by USPS.

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.

Sacking Sequence for Pieces 1/2 Inch Thick or Thicker (435.5) 5-Digit  Sacks: Required if 10 or more pounds of pieces to same 5-digit ZIP Code; less than 10 pounds in a sack not permitted. Labels: For Line 1, use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code on mail. Rate: Presorted 3-Digit  Sacks: Required if 10 or more pounds of pieces to same 3-digit ZIP Code prefix; less than 10 pounds in a sack not permitted. (Exception: After all full sacks are prepared, one less-than-full sack must be prepared for any remaining pieces for each 3-digit ZIP Code prefix of SCF serving post office where mail is verified.) Labels: For Line 1, use L002, Column A, for destination facility. Rate: Presorted ADC  Sacks: Required if 10 or more pounds of pieces to same ADC (see L004); less than 10 pounds in a sack not permitted. Labels: For Line 1, use L004, Column B for destination facility. Rate: Presorted Mixed ADC  Sacks: Required for any remaining pieces. Pieces must be placed in mixed ADC sacks; only one less-than-full sack permitted. Labels: For Line 1, use "MXD" followed by city, state, and ZIP Code of origin facility in L002, Column C. Rate: Presorted

Bundling not required for pieces 1/2 inch thick or thicker if they are placed in a sack to same destination to which they would have otherwise been bundled. Prepared in green sacks.

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