509 Other Services

1.0 Address Information System Services

1.1 General Information

Address Management provides services that enable customers to manage the quality of their mailing lists while maximizing the Postal Service's ability to efficiently deliver mail. These services are described in 1.2 through 1.38. Additional information on these services can be found on RIBBS at ribbs.usps.gov or by calling the National Customer Support Center (see 608.8.0 for address) at 800-238-3150. See Notice 123—Price List.

1.2 Address Element Correction

Address Element Correction (AEC) service identifies and corrects bad or incomplete addresses using enhanced computer logic.

1.3 Address Matching System Application Program Interface

Address Matching System Application Program Interface (AMS API) is a core set of compiled address-matching software instructions available, for a set fee, to developers to incorporate into their software so that address lists can be updated with address data from the following databases, which are integrated into the AMS-API: City State, ZIP + 4, Five-Digit ZIP, eLOT, DPV, and LACSLink. The following services require payment of separate additional fees:

a. Installing the AMS-API on multiple computers for its own use.

b. Reselling its address-matching software.

c. Obtaining computer software instructions that permit the API to access the RDI data when licensed separately.

d. Reselling RDI-API.

1.4 Advance Notification and Tracking System

The Advance Notification and Tracking System provide mailers with delivery performance reports and data for qualified Standard Mail and Periodicals mailings with specific in-home delivery windows.

1.5 AEC ll Service

AEC II Service sends addresses with errors that cannot be resolved through other Address Management services to the field for resolution based on knowledge of delivery personnel. The mailer is provided with the correct address or with information that the address is not a recognized deliverable address.

1.6 Address Information Service Viewer

The Address Information Service (AIS) Viewer is an interactive CD-ROM that provides the ability to retrieve, view, and print accurate and current ZIP Code information for all 50 states on demand, eliminating hardcopy reports.

1.7 Carrier Route Information System

The Carrier Route Information System (CRIS) service provides reference information needed to apply carrier route codes to addresses. Copying is allowed for an additional fee.

1.8 CASS Certification

CASS evaluates and certifies the accuracy of address-matching software that applies ZIP + 4, DPV, LACSLink, Carrier Route Information System (CRIS), DSF2, eLOT, RDI, and Five-Digit ZIP. The Postal Service certifies software meeting its standards until the expiration of the applicable CASS cycle. Software must be re-certified for each CASS cycle. Ordinarily, a CASS testing cycle extends from August 1 through July 31 of the next year, and permits software use until the following July 31.

1.9 Change-of-Address Information for Election Boards and Registration Commissions

Change-of-Address Information for Election Boards and Registration Commissions service provides election boards and voter registration commissions with the current address of a resident addressee, if known to the Postal Service.

1.10 City State

The City State service is a comprehensive ZIP Code list associated with the appropriate city, county, and Post Office names. Copying is allowed for an additional fee.

1.11 Computerized Delivery Sequence (CDS)

CDS service provides and updates delivery sequence address information by carrier route for qualified mailers. The CDS No Stat service provides and updates nondelivery address information about new construction and rural route vacancies by carrier route for qualified mailers.

1.12 Delivery Statistics

Delivery statistics for all city carrier routes, rural routes, highway contract routes, general delivery units, and Post Office Box sections may be obtained from the Delivery Statistics File or through alternate processes as follows:

a. The Delivery Statistics File database is available on CD-ROM or cartridge for the entire nation. Information by states also is available on CD-ROM. The information is updated monthly through transaction files and can be ordered either with a single base file in the initial shipment or with a base file provided bimonthly. For information on charges and an order form, call 1-800-238-3150. To order the products, send a written request and appropriate payment to the USPS Delivery Statistics File, National Customer Support Center (see 608.8.0 for address). Copying is allowed for an additional fee.

b. The Address Information System (AIS) viewer is an interactive CD-ROM that provides delivery statistics retrieval, and other AIS products, that is updated monthly. The AIS Viewer can be obtained by contacting the National Customer Support Center as provided in 1.1, or by sending appropriate payment with the completed order form, available on the USPS.com website at http://www.usps.com/ncsc, as directed on the form.

c. Delivery statistics may be acquired directly from the Simplified Mailing Process website. This interactive website provides delivery statistics to mailers in accordance with the search functions selected, and is updated monthly. The Simplified Mailing Process website can be accessed through the RIBBS website at http://ribbs.usps.gov.

1.13 Delivery Type

The Delivery Type service provides a file that indicates the type of deliveries (i.e., P.O. Box, street, unique, military, and general deliveries) made within each 5-digit ZIP Code area in the United States. Copying is allowed for an additional fee.

1.14 Delivery Point Validation

The Delivery Point Validation (DPV) service in conjunction with CASS-Certified address matching software validates delivery points. Unlimited sublicensing is allowed by software developers without further payment.

1.15 DSF2 Service

The DSF2 service is used to check mailing address accuracy, identify address types, and obtain walk sequence statistics. The DSF2 database is the most complete Postal Service address database available, containing every deliverable mailing address in the United States, and is used to verify that address lists are correct and complete, identify business versus residential addresses, recognize commercial mail receiving agencies, provide walk sequence numbers and postal codes, identify seasonal addresses, detect addresses vacant for over 90 days, and categorize addresses by delivery type, e.g., curb, door slot, box, etc. DSF2 processing includes address standardization that may be used to apply for CASS qualification.

1.16 eLine-Of-Travel Service

eLine-of-Travel (eLOT) service gives mailers the ability to sort their mailings in approximate carrier-casing line-of-travel sequence. Copying is allowed for an additional fee.

1.17 FASTforward Multi-line Optical Character Reader

The FASTforward system makes change-of-address information for moves available to mailers so that it can be applied to a mailpiece while it is being processed on a multi-line optical character reader (MLOCR). Customers use FASTforward Move Update Notification electronic files to update their databases with change-of-address information.

1.18 Five-Digit ZIP

The Five-Digit ZIP service provides detailed street data for multi-coded cities (i.e., cities that have more than one 5-digit ZIP Code), so that the proper ZIP Code can be identified. Copying is allowed for an additional fee.

1.19 Labeling Lists

Labeling Lists contain destination ZIP Codes with the corresponding Postal Service facility destination information.

1.20 LACSLink

LACSLink service provides mailers an automated method of obtaining new addresses when rural-style addresses are converted to street-style addresses. The three types of licenses are listed in 1.20.1 through 1.20.3.

1.20.1 Interface Developer

Interface Developer service grants the right to develop an interface between address-matching software and the LACSLink database service.

1.20.2 Interface Distributor

Interface Distributor service grants the right to sublicense the interface and the LACSLink database service to third parties.

1.20.3 End User

End User service grants the right to obtain the LACSLink database service directly from the Postal Service for use in updating mailing lists.

1.21 MAC Batch System Certification

The MAC Batch System Certification service evaluates and certifies that manifest/presort mailing products accurately list and calculate postage for presorted non-identical piece mailings consistent with DMM, IMM, and manifest mailing system processing standards. Software is certified until the expiration of the applicable MAC Batch System cycle.

1.22 MAC Gold System Certification

The MAC Gold System Certification service evaluates and certifies that manifest mailing systems (software, weigh scales, and label printers) accurately list and calculate postage for nonidentical piece mailings consistent with DMM, IMM, and manifest mailing system itemized pricing standards. Software is certified until the expiration of the applicable MAC Gold System cycle.

1.23 MAC System Certification

The MAC System Certification service evaluates and certifies that manifest mailing software accurately lists and calculates postage for nonidentical piece mailings consistent with DMM, IMM, and manifest mailing system standards, until the expiration of the applicable MAC System cycle.

1.24 MASS Certification

MASS (Multiline Accuracy Support System) Certification service provides certification for multiline optical character readers, remote video encoding, local video encoding, and encoding stations (“equipment”). The MASS certification process is designed to evaluate the ability of the equipment to process address information using CASS-Certified software, and apply an accurate delivery point barcode to a mailpiece. The Postal Service separately certifies the equipment for a manufacturer and the user. Certified equipment can be used until the expiration of the applicable MASS cycle. Ordinarily, a MASS testing cycle extends from August 1st through July 31st of the next year, and permits use until the following July 31st.

1.25 NCOALink

The NCOALink service makes change-of-address information for moves available to mailers. The Postal Service tests the systems under the Developer, Full Service Provider, Limited Service Provider, End User, and Mail Processing Equipment licenses to ensure that they meet Postal Service performance requirements. The six types of licenses are listed in 1.26.1 through 1.26.6.

1.25.1 NCOALink Interface Developer

NCOALink Interface Developer service grants the right to develop a software interface between address-matching software and the NCOALink service database.

1.25.2 NCOALink Interface Distributor

NCOALink Interface Distributor service grants the right to unlimited sublicensing of software interfaces developed pursuant to an NCOALink Interface Developer License.

1.25.3 NCOALink Full Service Provider (FSP)

NCOALink FSP service grants the right to perform address list updating services for both the licensee and third party mailers using 48 months of change-of-address data. Postal Service database services such as DPV and LACSLink are included.

1.25.4 NCOALink Limited Service Provider (LSP)

NCOALink LSP service grants the right to perform address list updating services for third-party mailers, as well as for the licensee's own mail using 18 months of change-of-address data.

1.25.5 NCOALink End User Mailer

NCOALink End User Mailer service grants a mailer the right to perform address list updating for its own mail using 18 months of change-of-address data.

1.25.6 NCOALink Mail Processing Equipment

NCOALink Mail Processing Equipment service grants a mailer the right to either perform address updating directly onto its mailpieces using 18 months of change-of-address data and a MLOCR or to create an electronic file for address updating using other mail processing equipment.

1.26 NCOALink — ANKLink Service Option

ANKLink provides an option for NCOALink LSP and End User Mailer licensees to acquire an additional 30 months of change-of-address information. ANKLink informs mailers that a customer has moved, along with the move effective date. It does not provide the new address.

1.27 Official National Zone Charts

The Official National Zone Charts identify the appropriate distance code assigned to each originating and destination pairing for every ZIP Code in the nation.

1.28 Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation System Certification

The Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) system evaluates and certifies the accuracy of publication and print planning (PPP) software that calculates virtual copy weight and the percentage of advertising consistent with Periodicals computation standards, and certifies users of PPP software who demonstrate knowledge of the software for Periodicals mailings based on DMM standards and applicable USPS Customer Support Rulings. Software and users are certified until the expiration of the applicable PAGE cycle.

1.29 PAVE System Certification

The PAVE (presort accuracy validation evaluation) system evaluates and certifies the accuracy of presort software that sorts mailing lists consistent with DMM mail preparation standards. Software is certified until the expiration of the applicable PAVE cycle.

1.30 RDI Service

The RDI service verifies whether a delivery type is classified as residential or business.

1.31 Topological Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing

Topological Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER/ZIP+4) service is a bridge file that allows mailers to access other information using the ZIP+4 codes they already have associated with their addresses. This file offers demographers and market researchers a method to relate ZIP+4 coded address lists to U. S. Census Bureau demographic data.

1.32 Z4CHANGE

The Z4CHANGE service provides the information necessary to facilitate frequent and cost-effective updating of very large computerized mailing lists for automation compatibility and improved deliverability. Copying is allowed for an additional fee.

1.33 Z4INFO

Z4INFO is an add-on utility to the ZIP+4 service that can be integrated into address-matching software to improve address quality. There is no charge for this service.

1.34 ZIP+4 Service

The ZIP+4 service is the base reference that can be used to assign the correct ZIP+4 code associated with a physical address. Copying is allowed for an additional fee.

1.35 ZIPMove

The ZIPMove data file assists address-matching software in providing up-to-date, accurate ZIP+4 codes.

1.36 ZIP Code Sortation of Address Lists

ZIP Code Sortation of Address Lists service provides sortation of addresses to the finest possible ZIP Code level.

1.37 99 Percent Accurate Method

The 99 Percent Accurate Method provides testing of mailers' address lists to determine whether they are at least 99 percent accurate.

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2.0 Nonpostal Services

2.1 Bird Hunting Stamps

Migratory bird hunting and conservation stamps (“bird stamps”) are required by federal law for the hunting of migratory birds, such as ducks and geese. As a public convenience, these stamps are sold at all Post Offices in CAGs A through J and, based on demand, at designated offices in CAGs K and L. These Post Offices act as agents of the federal government for this function. Migratory bird stamps are nonredeemable and all sales are final.

2.2 U.S. Savings Stamps

Post offices no longer redeem U.S. savings stamps posted in albums, previously acceptable as postal funds. Customers should contact a Federal Reserve Bank or branch, or mail albums at their own risk to the Bureau of the Public Debt, U.S. Department of the Treasury.

2.3 U.S. Savings Bonds

The USPS discontinued over-the-counter sales of U.S. savings bonds on March 26, 1977, at the request of the Treasury Department. Inquiries should be made to local financial institutions or the Treasury Department.

2.4 Postal Savings

The Postal Savings System was discontinued by Public Law 89-377, approved March 28, 1966. The effective date for closing the system was April 27, 1966. The final expiration date was July 13, 1985, for inquiries that could lead to recovery of money invested in Postal Savings Accounts and/or Postal Savings Certificates.

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