Related QSGs
201d, Designing Flats for Automated Processing
Physical Standards (201.6.0, 207.3.0)
Maximum weight:
For an overview of designing machinable flats, see Quick Service Guide 201d.
Prices and Fees (207.1.0)
Prices include piece charges, pound prices (advertising and nonadvertising), and applicable discounts.
5-digit, 3-digit/SCF, and ADC and Mixed ADC prices are bundle based; Outside-County prices apply; In-County prices apply to all eligible In-County copies.
In-County Prices:
In-County prices include piece prices, pound prices (DDU and other), and DDU discount.
Outside-County Prices:
Pound Prices—Advertising pounds based on destination entry and zone. Nonadvertising pounds based on destination entry and all other zones.
Piece Prices—Based on the bundle level (six or more pieces). Customers mailing firm bundles pay a separate firm piece price.
Bundle Prices—Based on the container and bundle level. For bundles and containers with both In-County and Outside-County mailpieces, mailers do not pay the bundle or container charges for carrier route, 5-digit carrier routes, and 5-digit/scheme bundles, pallets, flat trays, and sacks (when applicable).
Container Prices—Based on the container type, container level, and entry. For mailings prepared in sacks and flat trays, mailers pay the container price for each sack and flat tray based on the container level and entry.
Destination entry prices (DDU, DSCF, DADC, and DNDC) have additional standards (207.29.0). The mail must be addressed for delivery within that facility‘s service area.
Ride-Alongs are available for items up to 3.3 ounces (or not more than the weight of the host publication) eligible as USPS Marketing Mail (207.15.0).
Eligibility Standards (207.4.0, 207.14.0)
For authorized publications (e.g., magazines and newspapers) whose primary purpose is transmitting information. Periodicals must be issued at least four times a year at a stated frequency from a known office of publication and be formed of printed sheets. General publications must have a legitimate list of subscribers, and Requester publications must have a legitimate list of requesters or subscribers. All pieces within each mailing must be in the same processing category.
Mailings must be designed according to 201.6.0 or 207.26.0 (prepared in 5-digit bundles only), bear a delivery point Intelligent Mail barcode (207.14.0) and be sorted as described below.
Each piece must include a complete delivery address with correct ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code.
For address standards, see 207.4.0; for barcode quality standards, see 207.14.0; and for CASS/MASS, see standards in 602.9.0.
Addresses must be matched using a CASS/MASS-certified process within 120 days before mailing.
All letter-size reply cards and envelopes (Business Reply Mail, Courtesy Reply Mail, and metered reply mail) provided as enclosures must meet the standards in 207.14.2.
Mailers can apply Repositionable Notes, see 202.7.0.
Postage Payment and Documentation (207.16.0, 207.17.0)
Advance deposit account(s) at original and each additional entry post office, unless authorized under Centralized Postage Payment (CPP) (207.16.5).
Documentation:
Mail Preparation (207.25.0)
Barcoded sack/flat tray labels are required (207.21.0).
Pieces meeting specifications in 207.26.0 must be prepared in separate bundles from pieces meeting specifications in 201.6.0. Separate bundle minimums (207.25.1) must be met for each bundle type. Within each bundle, mailers may combine pieces of nonidentical weights if authorized under 705.2.0. Bundles of pieces prepared under 207.26.0 and 201.6.0 may be combined in the same flat tray or sack (when applicable) or on the same pallet.
Traying is permitted under 207.25.5.
Any mailing job that contains bundles of machinable barcoded (automation) flats and bundles of machinable nonbarcoded flats must be cosacked using 705.9.0.
Enter and Deposit (207.28.0)
Only at authorized original and/or additional entry Post Office(s), unless authorized exceptional dispatch under 207.28.3.
Preparation
Carrier route flats, 5-digit scheme carrier route flats, 5-digit carrier route flats, nonpalletized residual 5-digit flats entered at a DDU along with carrier route flats, nonpalletized carrier route flats entered at the DSCF (origin), nonpalletized 5-digit flats entered at the DSCF (origin), and nonpalletized 3-digit/SCF flats entered at the DSCF (origin) may be prepared in sacks instead of flat trays.
Bundling, Traying, and Sacking Sequence (207.25.0) |
5-Digit/Scheme 1 Bundles: Scheme bundles required for 5-digit ZIP Codes in L007. Pieces must be bundled if 6 or more pieces to the same 5–digit ZIP Codes; fewer pieces permitted under 207.25.1.7. Labels: Red Label 5 SCH, Red Label 5, or optional endorsement line (OEL) (203.7.0). Price: 2 | 3-Digit/Scheme 1 Bundles: Scheme bundles required for 3–digit ZIP Codes in L008. Pieces must be bundled if 6 or more pieces to same 3-digit ZIP Code prefix; fewer pieces permitted under 207.25.1.7. Labels: Green Label 3 SCH, Green Label 3, or OEL. Price: 2, 3 | ADC Bundles: Required, pieces must be bundled if 6 or more pieces to same ADC (L004); fewer pieces not permitted. Labels: Pink Label A or OEL. Price: 2 | Origin Mixed ADC Bundles: Required, no minimum for any remaining pieces for destinations in L201, Column B, of the origin ZIP Code in Column A. Labels: Tan Label X or OEL. Price: 2 | Mixed ADC Bundles: Required, any remaining pieces must be bundled in mixed ADC bundles. Labels: Tan Label X or OEL. Price: 2 |
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5-digit/Scheme 1 Flat Trays and Sacks (when applicable): Allowed at 24 pieces; required at 72 pieces; fewer than 24 pieces not permitted. Barcoded Labels: Line 1: For 5-digit scheme flat trays use L007, Column B. For 5-digit flat trays or sacks, use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code on mail. Line 2: For 5-digit scheme flat trays, use “NEWS” (or “PER”) and “FLTS 5D SCH BC.” For 5-digit flat trays or sacks, use “NEWS” (or “PER”) and “FLTS 5D BC.” | 3-digit Flat Trays and Sacks (when applicable): Allowed at 24 pieces; required at 72 pieces; fewer than 24 pieces not permitted. Barcoded Labels: For Line 1, use L002, Column A; for Line 2, “NEWS” (or “PER”) and “FLTS 3D BC.” 3 | SCF/Origin Entry SCF Flat Trays and Sacks (when applicable): Allowed at 24 pieces; required at 72 pieces; fewer than 24 pieces not permitted. Required, no minimum for SCF of origin (verification) office; optional for the SCF of an entry office other than origin office. Barcoded Labels: For Line 1, use L002, Column C; for Line 2, “NEWS” (or “PER”) and “FLTS SCF BC.”5 | ADC Flat Trays: Allowed at 24 pieces; required at 72 pieces; fewer than 24 pieces not permitted. Barcoded Labels: For Line 1, use L004, Column B; for Line 2, “NEWS” (or “PER”) and “FLTS ADC BC.” | Origin Mixed ADC Flat Trays: Required, no minimum for any remaining pieces for destinations in L201, Column B, of the origin ZIP Code in Column A. Barcoded Labels: For Line 1, use L201, Column C; for Line 2, “NEWS” (or “PER”) and “FLTS WKG W FCM.” | Mixed ADC Sacks: Required, no minimum for any remaining bundles placed into mixed ADC flat trays. Barcoded Labels: For Line 1, use L009, Column B; for Line 2, “NEWS” (or “PER”) and “FLTS BC WKG.” |
Piece price is based on the type of bundle regardless of the flat tray in which it is placed. |
1. 5-digit scheme and 3-digit scheme bundles required for pieces meeting standards in 201.6.0.
2. For prices, see Notice 123–Price List.
3. The ADC piece price applies to bundles with fewer than 6 pieces.
4. Use “PER” if issued less frequently than weekly.
5. For nonbarcoded pieces, use “NON BC.”
