1.8.2015 – USPS is pursuing an initiative to identity revenue discrepancies for shortpaid and underpaid packages.
This sounds like a potential new clerk position.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION – PARCEL DIMENSIONAL SCANNER (PDS)
TO ALL PROSPECTIVE OFFERORS:
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is performing a market survey to evaluate obtaining the supplies and/or services which are the subject of this Request For Information (RFI). This RFI is for informational purposes only and will not necessarily result in a solicitation or award of a contract. Additionally, this RFI does not commit the USPS to pay any cost for the preparation and submission of a response.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
The USPS Network Operations organization is interested in identifying sources of supply capable of providing a system to dimension single packages, scan barcoded labels on packages, and to transmit data associated with those functions.
BACKGROUND:
The USPS is pursuing an initiative to identify revenue discrepancies for shortpaid and unpaid packages and develop a strategy to address these issues. The initiative aims to define cost-effective solutions to address revenue discrepancies, including reporting and analysis mechanism(s) to provide better visibility into revenue leakage. Ultimately, the initiative aims to improve and control the revenue discrepancies and address any discrepancies detected.
A key component of the initiative is to identify parcels subject to dimensional pricing for which the postage is insufficient. As an example, parcels larger than 1 cu ft. being sent to zones 5 or higher and light enough to require payment based on size rather than weight (DIM Weight). The Postal Service is considering installation of a scanner at the SWYB (Scan Where You Band) workstations to manually capture parcel dimensions and package information (e.g. package tracking barcodes and postage indicia). Coupled with the weight from the SWYB, software integration would allow the data to be passed to a postal IT system that can identify postage discrepancies and provide the information required for determination of further action.
Performance:
Max parcel size: No mailpiece may weigh more than 70 pounds or measure more than 108 inches in length and girth combined, except Standard Post, which may not measure more than 130 inches in length and girth combined. (Note: girth = is 2x width + 2x height)
Parcel shape: Rectangular and nonrectangular
Accuracy: 0.25 in max, prefer less than 0.20 in
Cycle time: goal is 3 sec max from beginning of scan to results (dimensions and barcode decoding)
Barcode Decoding: The PDS must decode the required barcodes and capture every barcode on the face of a parcel. Goal is a read rate and accuracy of 99.7%.
Required:
• USPS Tracking Barcodes
o Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) – GS1-128, subset C (X dimension 0.014 to 0.019 inch; 0.013 to0.017 inch preferred)
o Label 400 – GS1-128
o Extra service label
Insurance PS Form 3813– GS1-128
Signature Confirmation PS Form 153 – Interleaved 2 of 5
o USPS Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb)
• USPS IBI (Information Based Indicia) – PDF 417 and Datamatrix (convert bit stream to MIME64 for decoding by a postal system)
Data output: The USPS plans to integrate the output from PDS (dimensions, barcode read results) and pass that through SWYB. This data will be coupled with the weight and time stamps from SWYB and pass the data to a postal IT system that can identify shortpaid instances and provide the information required for collection.
Parcel Dimensional Scanner (PDS)
Stellar Steve: I agree with you 1000%. I have been after management, talked to Postal Inspectors and others. I did a survey over two X-mas seasons ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, when package volume was significantly lower and was writing up $300-$500 in short paid each day, and we had 5 people breaking out the mail. Now multiply that by 100 + facilities, we are losing in excess of 100 MILLION DOLLARS a year. I found nearly 40% of dimensional packages are shortpaid. Even worse the APPS has the ability to catch shortpaid mail and have it separated into its own bin for verification, and yet management will not utilize the tools that are available to protect revenue
To bad these USPS mangers did not consult with the package engineers in the postal services because this type of dimension systems have been used in the NDCs for at least 20 years. They still are currently in use, in fact a national deployment was completed two years ago for this type of system. Looks like the head does not know what the feet are doing.
All you have to do is keep an eye out for parcels to zones four and up that don’t have the deminsional rate specified on the pre-printed postage label and double check it. We find those fairly often. Not many egg pas tux at our office. The other day, We also caught a large package full of clothes that was sent media mail. As soon as I pulled out of the hamper I could tell it probably wasn’t media is I sat it aside to check before giving it to the route.
Will it send me a refund when the window clerk overcharges due to a lack of understanding of the byzantine pricing structure? I can take an unusual parcel to three different clerks and get three different prices for the same service.
This device will be called the “Claires” scanner.
“C;aires” explain please
This is what we need, to find all the parcels with incorrect revenue, something that has been magnified by letting people print their own postage, many times incorrectly. Some customers do this by mistake, others unfortunately, do this to purposely cost the Post Office revenue. Now, in the “old days” the plants had roving postage due clerks, usually given basic window training, so as to identify these packages, and either mark them up as postage due, or return them, if warranted. However, with all the clerk job cuts, this has fallen by the wayside, when the positions are in fact needed more than ever. We do not need more machines to do this, just more trained clerks.
Translation: “Dammit. Amazingly, we’ve been unable to find a relative or friend, that has connections with a company that can provide these to the USPS. If we can’t get the usual kickbacks we get with every other contract, guess we’ll have to actually hire someone for this. Anyone here know how to do that ?…..”