Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) – Overview Presentation April 2011

Facility Access and Shipment Tracking(FAST) – Overview Presentation

April 2011April 2011

Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST)Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST)

Agenda

2

FAST Overview

FAST Components

FAST Business Overview

Facilities

Reports

Mailer Rating

FAST and Full-Service

Registering for FAST / Scheduler Hierarchy

Appointments


Agenda

3


FAST Overview

FAST Components

Facilities

Reports

Mailer Rating



Appointments


What is FAST?

• FAST is a system designed for business mailers to schedule appointments for entry of mail into postal facilities

• FAST accommodates both drop shipped and origin-entered mailings


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• Provide a single integrated customer service product visibility solution for all mail classes

• Simplify the scheduling process

• Encourage mailers to provide further information via electronic submission (online or Web Services) for drop shipments and Origin-Entered mailings

• Provide a complete profile of all mail inducted (mail classes and facilities)

The FAST system was designed to:

Overview/Benefits

Eligible Mail Classes

Drop Shipped

Origin-Entered

First-Class

Standard Standard

Package Services

Package Services

Periodicals Periodicals


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• Integrate with the Drop Ship Product Files to validate drop ship discounts with drop ship entry points

• Provide better knowledge to manage the capacity of a facility

• Encourage better performance for mailers (via mailer rating)

• Utilize mailer rating to provide greater access for appointment scheduling for “good” mailers

• Reduce the overall appointment wait times and dock efficiency time

• Streamline the mailers data maintenance process

• Report redirection of mailings

The FAST system was designed to:

Overview/Benefits


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Scheduling an Appointment in FAST

Methods of Scheduling an Appointment in FAST

1. Online – Access to FAST online is provided via the Business Customer Gateway.

• Access to the BCG is required for all appointment scheduling and management

2. Web Services - Provides the ability to submit electronic appointment management requests from mailers Supply Chain Management Systems with FAST using the Mail.XML Specification developed by IDEAlliance or Mail.dat

3. Phone Assistance – By calling the facility directly, the Area Coordinator may be able to schedule an appointment for the user

• Please note that this method of scheduling FAST appointments should only be done if the user has an extreme circumstance that impedes them from scheduling the appointment on their own


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Web Services

FAST Web Services

• A method of bi-directional communication between the Mailer and FAST

• “Messaging” concept that is built on open standards, such as Mail.XML (Extensible Markup Language) all managed by IDEAlliance

o Allows an industry to define the communication XML standards within an industry

• Functionality used by corporations that are ready to move from online scheduling of appointments to electronic submission of appointments using Web Services


What is Mail.XML?

• Mail.XML is a method for submitting appointment and mail piece information directly to USPS

• Mail Owners / Mail Preparers submit tailored XML files directly to PostalOne! o PostalOne! then forwards these messages to the FAST system for

processingo Messages containing logistics and content pass through the

PostalOne! system

• Each Mail.XML submission consists of two partso A request message: (sent by the Mail Owner / Mail Preparer)o A response message: (returned by USPS) indicating the outcome of

the previously sent requesto Every request submission has a response

What is Mail.XML


What is Mail.XML?

• Partnership between USPS and Industry

• Dramatic change in technology

XML vs. fixed field database format

Internet, Web Services messaging (automated server to server communication)

• Change from manual processes to highly automated processes resulting in efficiency and cost avoidance.

• Broadening of scope from container based processes addressed by Mail.dat to full service support that includes advanced functionality

What is Mail.XML (cont.)


Mail.XML Benefits

• Simpler, faster, easier change management model

Specification change does not impact each vertical

• Specification change with optional data fields does not impact every software

• Possibilities for Business to Business transactions requiring quick and automated decision making

• Standard Communication medium within an enterprise/company and within the industry

• Automated Conflict/Resolution

• Cost Avoidance through automation

Mail.XML Benefits


Mail.XML Summary

• What is Mail.XML™ ?

Message communication supporting Mail.dat

• Why do we need Mail.XML™ when we have Mail.dat?

Different business opportunities require different tools

• Will Mail.XML™ replace Mail.dat?

No

• Which should I use?

Evaluate your infrastructure and choose

• Where to Start

Visit IDEAlliance (www.idealliance.org) and USPS sites

Mail.XML Summary


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FAST Interfaces


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PostalOne!

– Mail.XML 6.0D/8.0B Interface

– Mail.dat Recurring Content Updates

– Scheduler ID/Scheduler Corp ID and Hierarchy Process

– Acceptance Site and User to Finance Number Association (CSA)

– Send Mail Direction File (MDF) and MDFv2

Customer Registration/eAdmin for external user authentication/permissions

FDB (Facilities Database) for facility information

ELLS (External Labeling List) for Label Lists, Default Drop Entry Points, and Address data (via AMS)

Active Directory for internal user authentication

eAccess for internal user permissions

SASP (Seamless Acceptance and Service Performance) to send appointment, container, and CSA data

Key Interfaces


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EDW (Enterprise Data Warehouse) for data warehousing

TIMES (Transportation Information Management Evaluation System) interface

– Send Appointment Schedules

– Retrieve Closeout and Unscheduled Arrivals

– Incorporates interfaces to Surface Visibility (SV), TIMES Web, Yard Management System(YMS), Vehicle Tracking Analysis and Performance System (VTAPS)

Key Interfaces (cont.)


Agenda

16

FAST Components


Facilities

Reports

Mailer Rating


Appointments / Recurring Appointments



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Understanding Corporate/Scheduler Hierarchy

Before beginning the FAST and/or CSA registration process, users should understand the differences between Corporate and Scheduler locations and roles.

A Corporate location may have 1 to many users. However, these should be kept at a minimal.

There will be 1 BSA per location per service (i.e. – 1 BSA for ABC Business Entity 2 Chicago/FAST, 1 BSA for ABC Business Entity 2 Chicago/CSA). These BSAs could however be the same person.

There may be 1 to many users associated to a scheduler location.

1 user may be associated to more than 1 location.



• Allows users to register for FAST, CSAs and other services

• Access to view/manage their Profile information

• All users interested in scheduling appointments and using the FAST system must get access through the Business Customer Gateway. • CRID – ID associated to a

customer and a business name at an address

• Business Service Administrators (BSAs) is the primary point of contact (displayed in the Scheduler Profile)

Business Customer Gateway:



• To initiate the customer registration process, new FAST users must access the BCG by navigating to www.usps.com and selecting the Business Customer Gateway hyperlink on the bottom right corner

• Users requesting FAST Access MUST select the “Business” account type

• The Business Profile page:o Allows users to create a company profile (Contact Information,

Company Informationo Allows users to affiliate to an existing business entity, user must

enter the company CRIDo The Select Business Locations page:

o Allows users to click the checkbox(es) to select existing business locations or add additional ones not listed

BCG New Users



• When a user requests access at a business location, the system verifies whether or not that service requires a BSA

• The BSA is the key contact for the management of the selected service and approver of the request

• When registering for FAST service in the BCG:• If there is already a BSA the user will bypass the BSA registration

process

• If there is not already a BSA, the registration process will continue

• If the user declines the BSA process, the service request will go into pending status until a BSA is designated for the service, the request is held for 10 days

Role of the Business Service Administrator (BSA)



• Upon accepting the BSA privilege, the Apply for BSA FAST Service page displays and the user may:• Select the Locate

Corporation button, this associates the user to an existing corporation in FAST

-Or-

• Select the Create Corporation button, this allows the user’s company to serve as the headquarters/corporate office in FAST

Applying for BSA FAST Service



BCG Existing Users

• Existing non BSA users may:o View their profileo Request access to business

serviceso View request approval statuso Directly access services

• Existing BSA users may:o View their profileo Request access to business

serviceso View request approval statuso Directly access serviceso Check the inbox for status

requestso Manage user access


Business Customer Gateway/eAdmin Support

Business Customer Gateway/eAdmin Resources:

• Available on the FAST website

• Users can navigate to Resources > Reference Documents:

o Customer Job Aids:

– Business Customer Gateway Introduction – Dock Handout

– Business Customer Gateway– New Users

– Business Customer Gateway– Existing Users

• Remedy tickets should be assigned to HQ_CUSTGATE_EADMIN_SUPP


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Profiles

Profiles Module in FAST

• Accessible once the user has created a FAST profile through the BCG

• Displays customer scheduler and corporate information

• Provides the ability search for customer information by Corporate Name/ID and Scheduler Name/ID (Internal Users)

• The Corporate and Scheduler Information is displayed based on the users customer permissions (CRID)


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Profiles

FAST Profiles

• Allows the user to update any necessary information

• Grants the user access the Scheduler Profile

Scheduler Profile

• Manage Publications

• Manage Preferred Mail Owners and Mail Preparers


Agenda

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FAST Components


Facilities

Reports

Mailer Rating




FAST Components

• Appointment Management:o Provides the capacity to

manage drop ship appointments

• Recurring Appointment Management:o Provides the capacity to

manage drop ship recurring appointments

• Facility Management:o Provides the capacity to

manage facility level information

• Profile Management:o Displays drop shipment

customer information from Customer Registration


FAST Components

• Reports:o Provides visibility to various

reports for USPS and customers

• Resources:o Contains reference documents

and additional resources for users to access (e.g., FAST Web Based Training, Job Aids)

• FAST Origin Entry:o Provides the capability to

manage the Origin Entry modules (similar to the functionality for FAST drop ship)


FAST Components

• Test Environment for Mailers (TEM):o Provides a testing environment for mailers who will be participating in

Full-Serviceo TEM provides mailers with a way to test appointment scheduling via

Mail.XML

• Customer / Supplier Agreements (CSAs):o Provides External CSA users the capability to view CSAso Provides Internal CSA users the capability to view/manage and create

CSAs

• Administration Console (Internal Admin Users Only):o Provides Internal Admin users the capability to post messages on the

FAST message board and manage the Scheduler Hierarchy

• Drop Entry Point System (Internal DEPS Users Only):o Provides Internal DEPS users the ability to view/create/manage Facility

redirections


Agenda

30


Facilities

Reports

Mailer Rating




Ways of Creating Appointments with FAST

Creation Process

FrequencyMethod Used

Ways to Update

Single-entity

One-time

FAST Online•FAST Online•Mail.XML

Mail.XML•FAST Online (only to cancel the appointment)•Mail.XML

Recurring


Mail.XML•FAST Online (only to cancel the appointment)•Mail.XML•Mail.dat transportation updates

Joint Scheduling

One-time


Mail.XML•FAST Online (only to cancel the appointment)•Mail.XML

Recurring


Mail.XML •FAST Online (only to cancel the appointment) •Mail.XML •Mail.dat transportation updates


FAST Online

Access to the FAST Website is granted through the Business Customer Gateway

o Once the user logs into the BCG, they may select the “Schedule a Mailing Appointment (FAST)” hyperlink to navigate to the FAST webpage


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Appointments – Key Capabilities

The FAST appointment scheduling system can be used to:

• Create/Manage one time Appointments

• Create/Manage Stand-Alone Content • Allow collaboration by multiple

process owners to provide advanced notification for one appointment via the Joint Scheduling functionality

• Provide SV/TIMES/VTAPS/YMS with appointment scheduling data that can be utilized at induction

• Consolidates all closeout information and rates the appointments (Drop Ship Only)


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Appointment Scheduling – Key Capabilities

• A One-Time Appointment is an appointment that occurs on a one-time basis or when necessary

• In FAST, an Appointment = Logistics + Contento Logistics: Facility Information, Appointment Date/Timeo Content: Mail Class, Mail Shape

• In FAST, Appointments may be scheduled by a single entity or jointly

o Single Entity: One business provides the logistics and content detailso Joint Scheduling: different business entities provide logistics and

content information for the appointment

FAST Appointments:


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• Can be done in Web Services and within the FAST online application for one-time and recurring appointments

• Provides a repository of planned vs. actual mail induction information

• Creates visibility into mail preparation for the benefit of all parties

• Allows for advanced notification of content and transportation changes

Joint Scheduling Capabilities

FAST provides joint scheduling capabilities which enables the sharing of information on mail preparation and transportation across all partners to help drive efficiencies throughout the appointment process.

Publisher

Printer

Consolidator

Logistics Provider

Postal Service

Visibility:Visibility:

Planned Induction TimesPlanned Induction Times

Actual Induction TimesActual Induction Times

Planned Content InformationPlanned Content Information

Actual Content InformationActual Content Information

Recipient

FAST


Joint Scheduling in FAST

Creation Process

Frequency

Method Used

Ways to Update

Joint scheduling

• FAST allows more than one business entity the ability to provide logistics and content information for an appointment

• FAST roles for joint scheduling entities:

o Mail Owner: the party with items to be mailed who is ultimately in charge of the mailing

o Mail Preparer: the party in charge of preparing the mailings/shipments for the Mail Owner, example: addressing the material to be mailed and preparing it on pallets

o In some cases this may also be a consolidator, combining shipments from multiple mail owners for delivery to the USPS

o Scheduler: the logistics provider, who plans trailer load and date/time of arrival at a specific USPS facility


Joint Scheduling Data Security and Visibility

• The Scheduler may view and manage all aspects of an appointment (logistics and content information)

• The Mail Owner or Mail Preparer may only view or update their own content information

• In a co-mailing scenario:

o Only the mail preparer may view and update the content information

o Separate mail owners may view content information but are not permitted to see the other mail owners’ content

• Mail Owners/Mail Preparers can view appointment closeout times for appointments


Joint Scheduling Roles & the Appointment Creation Process

• Logistics information (facility, date, time)

o Managed by Scheduler

• Content information

o Managed by Mail Owner

– Or – o Mail Owner may delegate to Mail Preparer or Scheduler

Note: One entity may play multiple roles for appointment management


The Delivery Process

Mail Scheduler’s Truck

Containing pallets of mail for multiple mail owners

Pallet 7 – Mail Owner A

Pallets 8, 9 – Mail Owner B

Pallets 1 - 6 – Mail Owner C

Scheduler can manage all logistics

Mail Owner A can manage content only for Pallet 7


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Joint Scheduling Scenario #1

Scenario 1: Consolidator (Prepares and Transports Mail); Recurring Frequency

Appointment Scheduling: Company A prepares and transports mail to the New York SCF every Friday at 2PM Company B has mail that needs to go to New York SCF every Friday Company B works with Company A to have their mail prepared and transported by Company

A every Friday

In this scenario: Company A creates a recurring appointment and adds Company B’s content information to

the recurring appointment (identifying Company B as the Mail Owner) Company B electronically sends Company A the content of the mailing Company A prints, prepares and transports the mail every Friday at 2PM to the New York SCF

Roles: Scheduler: Company A Mail Owner: Company B Mail Preparer: Company A

Note: Since Company A identified Company B as the Mail Owner of the content, Company B will

have visibility into the logistics, closeout and content information (for only their specified content).


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Scenario 2: Logistics provider (Transports mail); Recurring Frequency

Appointment Scheduling: Company A transports mail to New York SCF every Friday at 2PM Company B and Company C both have mail that needs to go to New York SCF every Friday Company B and Company C work with Company A to have their mail transported by

Company A every Friday

In this scenario: Company A creates a recurring appointment shell and communicates the recurring

appointment sequence ID (i.e. 12345) to Company B and Company C Company B and Company C both add their content information to the recurring appointment

shell Company B and Company C prepare the mail weekly and stage it for pickup by Company A Company A picks up the mail and drops it off at New York SCF every Friday at 2PM

Roles: Scheduler: Company A Mail Owners: Company B and Company C Mail Preparers: Company B and Company C

Note: If there is a major fluctuation in content for a particular day, the mail owner/mail preparer (Company B

and Company C) should update their content information for that particular appointment instance.


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Scenario 3: Logistics provider (Prepares and Transport mail); Ad-hoc Mailing

Appointment Scheduling: Company A has an ad-hoc mailing for next Friday Company A will print and prepare the mail Company B will transport the mail

In This Scenario: Scheduling Model – One-Time Appointment Model

1. Company A creates a stand-alone content and associates it to Company B (Company B receives an email notifying them of the stand-alone content creation).

2. Company B creates a one-time appointment (logistics information only) for next Friday and associates the stand alone content created by Company A.

3. Company A prints and prepares the mail and stages it for pickup by Company B.

4. Company B transports the mail.

Roles: Scheduler: Company B Mail Owner: Company A Mail Preparer: Company A


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Appointment Scheduling – Key Data Elements

The FAST appointment scheduling process collects the following information:

• Scheduled Appointment Date/Timeo Facility Information (source: FDB, AMS, FAST Facility Constraints)

• Customer Information (source: CustReg)o Scheduler of the Appointmento Mail Preparer/Mail Owner

• Content Information (Stand-Alone or directly linked to an appointment)o Mail Class (Standard, Periodicals, etc)o Mail Shape/Processing Category (Letters, Flats, etc)o Presort Information (e.g. Mixed ADC) *o Container Information (IMCB) *

* Web Services Appointments Only


Online Appointment Shells – Key Capabilities

• An Appointment Shell without its associated content is not recognized as an appointment at a Facility

o The mail will be inducted under an Unscheduled Trip and will be unloaded when operationally feasible

Automatic Cancellation Policy:

• Appointment Shells reserve facility slots and volume and are automatically cancelled if no content is associated to the appointment

o Standard/Package Services One-Time Drop Ship Shells: must have at least one associated content 24hrs prior to the scheduled appointment date/time

o Pure Periodicals One-Time Drop Ship Shells: must have at least one associated content one hour prior to the scheduled appointment date/time

FAST Appointment Shells:


Online Appointment Shells – Key Capabilities (cont.)

• Cancellation by FAST will result in an appointment rating impact for Standard or Package Services Appointment Shells

• Cancellation of these Appointment Shells will result in an appointment exemption rating of 50 points

• Pure periodicals Appointment Shells are exempt from rating

FAST Appointment Shells - Rating Impacts:


Creating a One-Time Appointment through the FAST online application

• To create a One-Time Appointment online, FAST users must:

o Select a USPS facility

o Select the mail class (First-Class, Standard, Package Services or Periodicals)

o Select the available appointment date and time

o Provide content information (mail shape, # of pieces, etc.)

• Appointment can be created up to 14 days in the future

o Appointment must be created at least 1 hour prior to the appointment date/time

Creation Process

Frequency

Method Used

Ways to Update

Single-entity One-time FAST Online


Updating a One-Time Appointment through the FAST online application

• The user can search for an existing appointment by:o Appointment IDo Scheduler IDo Facility or o CRID

• Through the online FAST applications, user can:o Edit the logistics informationo Edit/Add content o Cancel the appointment

• Appointment can be updated or cancelled up to 1 hour prior to the appointment date/time

Creation Process

FrequencyMethod Used

Ways to Update

Single-entity One-time FAST Online FAST Online


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Appointment Scheduling – High Level Information

The FAST appointment scheduling process collects the following information:

• Scheduled Appointment Date/Timeo Facility Information (source: FDB, AMS, FAST Facility Constraints)

• Facility Information (source: FDB, AMS, FAST Facility Constraints)

• Customer Information (source: CustReg)o Scheduler of the Appointmento Mail Preparer/Mail Owner


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Appointment Scheduling – Key Business Rules

Entry Points and Appointment Type Validation

• Entry Point Validations (source: ELLS, FAST DEPS)o Ensures the mail is dropped at the correct locationo Based on default drop entry point information from ELLS and

redirection information from the FAST DEPS moduleo Example: Facility A redirects Standard Letters to Facility B

• Appointment Type to Pallet/Bedload Combinationso Validates the appointment type matches the content of the

appointmento Example: A Speedline Appointment cannot have bedloaded content


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Appointments – Key Business Rules II

Mail Shape and In-Home Dates

• Mail Shape (Processing Category) to Handling Unit Validations

o Ensures the correct Handling Unit is chosen for a Mail Shape

o Example: Letters cannot be put in Parcels

• In Home Start Dates

o A warning message is generated when an In-Home start date for Standard Mail cannot be met

o Rules on delivery will differ based on NDC vs. P&DC/Annex


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Appointments – Key Business Rules III

Volume Availability

• Take the Count of Pallets or Bedloaded Units, Mail Shape, and Handling Unit to determine an estimated piece count

• The volume is deducted (create/update) or added (cancellation) to facility constraints

• If volume is not available, an appointment transaction may be rejected

• Used for Standard, Package Services, or Mixed Mail Classes

• Does not apply to Origin Entry or Pure Periodicals/Pure Perishable Drop Shipments


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Appointments – Key Business Rules IV

Slot Availability

• Hours of Operations (source: FDB)o Used for Origin Entry Appointments, Pure Periodicals/Pure Perishable

Drop Shipments to determine when appointments can be made

• Drop Ship Receiving Hours and Early Bird Hours (source: FDB)o Used for Drop Ship Appointments at Delivery Units

• Facility Constraints (source: FAST Facility Constraints)o Used to Standard, Package Services, and Mixed Mail Class Drop

Shipments

o Managed in the FAST Facility Constraints module

o Slot constraints are allocated to “tiers” that are determined by the corporate rating process


Online Appointment Shells

• An Appointment Shell is the logistics portion of an appointment

Appointment = Logistics + Content

• The FAST online system allows the transportation providers the capability to create Appointment Shells via the Appointments module

• This capability should be leveraged by the transportation provider once they have agreed with the Mail Owners/Mail Preparers that they are responsible for adding content to the Appointment Shell at a later time

FAST Appointment Shells:


Drop Ship vs. Origin Entry Appointments

Origin Entry Appointments

• Mail Classes: First-Class, Standard, Package Services, Periodicals

• 5 days to finalize and closeout an appointment

• No volume constraints

• Appointments are Not Rated

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Drop Ship Appointments

• Mail Classes: Standard, Package Services, Periodicals

• 12 days to finalize and closeout an appointment

• Volume constraints (except Pure Periodicals/Perishables)

• Appointments are Rated (except Pure Periodicals/Perishables)


Drop Ship vs. Origin Entry Appointments (cont.)

Origin Entry Appointments

• Can include First-Class mail

• Does not perform Drop Entry Point validation

• Appointments can be scheduled in 10 minute intervals

• Use Hours of Operation for availability

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Drop Ship Appointments

• Does not have First-Class mail

• Performs Drop Entry Point Validation

• Appointments are scheduled by the hour

• Use Slots for Standard, Package Services, Mixed class availability – Use Hours of Operation for Pure Periodicals/Perishables


Periodicals in FAST

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Periodicals in FAST

• Pure Periodicals appointments in FAST are automatically approved

• Volume availability is not affected by content that is pure Periodicals

• For Pure Periodicals, the appointment slot availability is displayed for all hours a facility is open and staffed

• Pure Periodical appointments are always exempt from appointment and corporate rating

• Pure Periodicals appointment shells are exempt from rating


Agenda

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Facilities

Reports

Mailer Rating




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Recurring Appointment Scheduling – Key Capabilities

• A Recurring Appointment is an appointment that has a consistent frequencyo Usually for the same day/days and time and with the same content

informationo A recurring appointment may occur every week or selected weeks in a

time period

• When creating a recurring appointment the user can:o Specify the details of the recurring appointment (facility, frequency,

appointment day/time, etc.) and the content associated to the appointment OR

o Specify only the logistics information and have the Mail Owner/Mail Preparer input the content information of the recurring appointment request

FAST Recurring Appointments:


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Recurring Appointment Scheduling – Key Capabilities

The Facility Approval process:

• Insert information here this should include information to note that the slots and covered and the when the coordinator approves the appointment it matches the availability

• Constraints = Approved Slots


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Recurring Appointments – Key Capabilities

The FAST Recurring Appointments module:

• The Recurring Appointments module grants users the capability to:

o Request new Recurring Appointment

o Manage a Recurring Appointment/Request

o Manage a Recurring Appointment Instance

o Create a Recurring Appointment Shell

o Manage a Publication Exclusion


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Recurring Appointments – Key Capabilities

The FAST Recurring Appointment module (cont.):

• Approval process for Drop Ship Standard, Package Services, and Mixed Mail Class Appointments

• Recurring Appointments generated 15 days in advance (prior to appointment window) via batch

• Recurring Appointment Instances can be updated

o Onlineo Mail.XMLo Mail.dat Recurring Content


Drop Ship vs. Origin Entry Recurring Appointments

Origin Entry Recurring Appointments

• No approval required for Recurring Appointments

• Recurring Appointments can start the next day after they are created

• Recurring Appointments are scheduled in 10 minute intervals

• Facility can be changed for any Recurring Appointment

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Drop Ship Recurring Appointments

• Approval required for non-Pure Periodicals Recurring Appointments

• Recurring Appointments have to start at least 15 days in advance

• Recurring Appointments are scheduled by the hour

• Facility can only be changed for Pure Periodical Recurring Appointments (with contents redirected)


Creating or Updating a Recurring Appointment through Web Services

Creation Process

Frequency

Method Used Ways to Update

Single-entity Recurring

• Recurring Appointments can be created/updated through the FAST Online application or via Mail.XML

• A recurring sequence must be created 15 days prior to the desired start date

• Recurring appointment instances are automatically created 14 days prior to the appointment date/time and can be updated or cancelled up to 1 hour prior to the appointment date/time

• Web Services contents can only be updated via Mail.XML (or Mail.XML with Mail.dat) for each instance of the recurring appointment


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Web Services Testing

FAST Web Services Testing

• In order to begin submitting Web Services appointments in the FAST Production environment users must first test their desired messages in the FAST testing environment (TEM).

• Web Services Testing is a two phased testing effort:

1. Phase 1: Corporations test their connection to PostalOne! by using Web Services

• Users study the functionalities of every message and decide which messages fulfill their business needs

2. Phase 2: Corporations submit their Mail.XML messages and create appointments via Web Services

• FAST ensures that the messages submitted are valid


Web Services Testing

• To start the testing process Mailers will contact the FAST Help Desk via email at [email protected] or phone (877) 569-6614.

• During Phase 1:

o The FAST Help Desk assists the mailers in creating / activating new testing accounts in the FAST Testing Environment (TEM)

o Corporations will verify their connectivity to PostalOne! using Web Services

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Phase 1 of Web Services Testing


Web Services Testing – Phase 1

• The Phase 1 Testing Process steps (cont.):

o Mailers will study the functionalities of every message and decide which messages fulfill their business needs, or their customers’- for additional information they can refer to the Postal Service Mail.XML Technical Specification for Appointment Scheduling (FAST) http://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_guides/documents/tech_guides/xmlspec/SpecDocs/MailXMLTechnicalSpecFAST.pdf

o Mailers will need to complete the FAST Testing Survey (page 75 in the TEM Troubleshooting and Checklist) http://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_gateway/documents/tech_guides/TEMCHECKLIST.pdf

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• During Phase 2 the Mailers will verify that Phase 1 Connectivity was tested successfully.

• Based on the FAST Testing Survey that is completed by the Mailer during Phase 1, the FAST Web Services Testing team will provide the mailer with the FAST Testing Scenarios.

• The FAST Web Services Testing team will verify that the testing scenarios are successfully completed.

• The FAST Web Services Testing team will assist in the verification of business error handling, such as correct error messages being returned to the corporation.

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• During Phase 2 the Mailers will review the testing scenarios document sent by the FAST Web Services Testing team and begin testing in the TEM environment.

• For each completed scenario the Mailers will need to email the following to [email protected] and [email protected]:

o The scenario number in the Subject Line

o The attached request and response XML message

o The Shipper_APPT_ID / ConsigneeApptID / ConsigneeContentID (if available)

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Web Services Testing – Upon Completion

• Once completed in TEM the following will occur:

o The mailer will switch from the connectivity testing WSDL to the production WSDL located on http://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_guides/documents/tech_guides/xmlspec/xmlspec.htm

o The FAST Web Services Testing team will complete the Readiness for Production Verification Checklist, indicating that the Mailer’s corporation has successfully completed their Web Services testing activities and is ready to submit messages in the FAST production environment.

– The mailer will need to provide FAST with their corporate Production information (Scheduler ID, Scheduler Corp ID, and their CRID).

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Completion of Web Services Testing


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Web Services Appointment Creation

• Data submission by mailers can be done via:

o Pure Web Services

o Web Services with Mail.dat

o Mail.dat for recurring appointments

FAST Web Services:

Web Service Message

inquiry, create, update, cancel

Web Service Message

inquiry response, accept, reject

Web Service Request FlowCurrent Appointment Creation and Management Process

Mailer

2. FAST processes

Web Service request

1. Mailer submits Web

Service request

3. FAST sends Web

Service response to Mailer

FAST4.Mailer processes Web

Service response

5. FAST sends

appointment closeout information to Mailer

6.Mailer processes

appointment closeout information

Web Service Message

closeout

PostalOne! is the gateway system between mailers and

FAST


71

Appointments Creation via Web Services

Web Services Appointments & FAST

• Appointments can be created via FAST Web Services with the DeliveryAppt Mail.XML messages

• Appointments created via Web Services are treated the same as those created online and should have two corresponding parts:

o Logistics: Appointment date, time, location, etc. and

o Content: Number of pallets, Mail Class, Mail Shape, etc.

Message Name Purpose

DeliveryApptQuery Queries the availability of slots for drop ship (one-time and recurring) and Origin Entry appointments

DeliveryApptCreate Creates a new appointment

DeliveryApptUpdate Updates appointment logistics and/or contents

DeliveryApptCancel Cancels the specified appointment and its associated content


Additional Appointment Creation Processes

• Pure Web Serviceso Mail.XML transaction in which all logistics and content detail is sent in

the XML file by the customer

• Web Services with Mail.dato Logistics information is sent in the XML fileo Content information is pulled from an existing database in the

PostalOne! System

Users can also create appointments in FAST in the following ways:


Ways to Update Appointment

• Through the FAST Online applicationo Users can update appointments created online as well as via Web

Services

• Using software to exchange data with FAST in Mail.XML formato Pure Web Services

o Web Services with Mail.dat

• Using Mail.dat to send container barcode and content information o For recurring appointments only

Appointments can be updated in the following ways:


Creating or Updating a One-Time Appointment through Web Services

Creation Process

Frequency

Method Used Ways to Update

Single-entity One-time Mail.XML Mail.XML

• The user may use Mail.XML messages to send the appointment logistics and content information through the PostalOne! system to FASTo Logistics and content information can be provided as part of the

Mail.XML transaction, process referred to as Pure Web Services

o Alternately, the Mail.XML transaction can provide logistics information, and content can be provided by referring to the PostalOne! Mail.dat container data stored in the PostalOne! database, processed referred to as Web Services with Mail.dat


Web Services Appointment Shells


DeliveryApptShellCreate Creates a new Appointment Shell

DeliveryApptShellUpdate Updates an existing Appointment Shell

DeliveryApptShellCancel Cancels an existing Appointment Shell

• Appointment Shells can be created/managed/cancelled via FAST Web Services with the DeliveryApptShell Mail.XML messages

• Since Appointment Shells only contain the logistics portion of an appointment, content can be added later by submitting a DeliveryContent Mail.XML message

FAST Web Services Appointment Shells:



DeliveryContentCreate Creates content (either Stand-Alone content or content associated to an appointment)

DeliveryContentUpdate Updates an existing content (either Stand-Alone content or content associated to an appointment)

DeliveryContentCancel Cancels an existing content (either Stand-Alone content or content associated to an appointment)

DeliveryContentQuery Queries content linked to a specific Appointment ID

• Appointment Content can be created/managed/cancelled via FAST Web Services with the DeliveryContent Mail.XML messages

• Content can be created in one of two ways:o As Stand-Alone content that is not associated to an Appointmento As standard content that is associated to an existing appointment

upon content creation

Web Services Content

FAST Web Services Content:


Agenda

77


Facilities

Reports

Mailer Rating



78

Facilities

Facility Management in FAST provides:

• Information such as hours of operation, facility contact info, Critical Entry Times and Additional Information

• Information on mail discounts processed associated with the facility

• Facility constraints management such as slots and volume for Standard and Package Services mail

• Holiday Management to modify operational information for USPS holidays


79

Facilities

Facility Profile

• Search Capabilitieso Facility Name, City/State, NASSo Districto Area

• Facility Information (source: FDB, AMS, ELLS, DEPS)o Physical Characteristics (e.g. Dock Height)o Delivery, Physical, and Mailing Addresso Hours of Operation and Drop Ship Hourso Primary and Secondary Contact Informationo Default Drop Entry Point and Redirections

• Holiday Administrationo Holidays set at the Area and District Level


80

Facilities

Facility Constraints and Holidays

• Facility Constraintso Set Default and Holiday/Contingency Constraintso Slots by Appointment Type, Hour, and Day of Weeko Volume Constraints by Mail Shape and Day of Weeko Hours of Operation (Holiday/Contingency Only)

• Additional Informationo Default Facility Information (may redirect mail to alternate

facilities and may also receive redirected mail from other default facilities)

- and -o Non-Default Facility Information (may only receive redirected

mail and not redirect to any other facility.


Agenda

81


Reports

Mailer Rating



82

Reports

FAST reports provide important logistics information to Mailers and USPS

• Appointment closeout information by customer, publication, appointment ID

• Summary information on appointments by status, mailer, area/district

• Corporate and Appointment Rating details


83

Reports

FAST reports provide important logistics information to Mailers and USPS

• Drop Entry Point, Redirections, and Label List information

• Holiday and Contingency Constraint Listing

• Appointment schedules for incoming mail

• Calendar summarizing appointment information


Reports available online

• Appointment Calendar• Appointment Rating Analysis Report• Appointment Status Report • Closeout Data Report• Corporate Rating Report• Holiday and Contingency Constraints Report• Mail Direction Search• Recurring Appointment Performance Report• Scheduler Performance Report• Scheduler Report• Slot Availability Report


85

Reports I

Appointment Calendar

• Offers a Calendar or Date Range View

• Generates data by Facility

• Displays the Number of Appointments, Total Pallets, etc by day

• Date Range View offers breakdown at Handling Unit Level


86

Reports II

Appointment Rating Analysis Report

• Generates data by Facility or Appointment ID

• Displays all details of Appointment Rating

• Displays the appointment rating by appointment for the selected Date Range, Facility ID and Scheduler


87

Reports III

Appointment Status Report

• Generates data by:o Facility/District/Areao Date Rangeo Mail Classo Status o Scheduler (optional)

• Displays individual appointment information for the selected criteria


88

Reports IV

Closeout Data Report

• Generates data by Appointment ID (One-Time and recurring), Facility, CRID, Publication Name, Scheduler ID, and eFile Number

• Displays several details on the appointment including information specific to the closeout process such as Mail Integrity issues and closeout method (SV scans)


89

Reports V

Corporate Rating Report

• Generates data by Corporation, Facility, and Rating Date Range

• Displays a roll up of all appointments under a single corporation at a facility

• National, Corporate, and Facility Average Rating included


90

Reports VI

Holiday and Contingency Constraint Report

• Generates data by:o Date Rangeo Facilityo Areao Districto National

• Displays the Facility and the constraint Hours of Operation and Drop Ship Hours


91

Reports VII

Mail Direction Search Report

• Generates data by Mail Class, Mail Shape, Discount, Pallet/Non-Pallet, and ZIP Code

• Views by Drop Entry Point, Default/Redirections, and Label List

• Displays a listing of drop entry points including Facility, Address, ZIP, Mail Class, Mail Shape, Pallet/Non-Pallet


92

Reports VIII

Recurring Appointment Performance Summary Report

• Generates data by Facility, Scheduler (optional), Date Range, and Mail Class

• Displays the Recurring Sequence ID, Scheduler, Effective Dates, Total Appointment Instances, Arrival Performance, Mail Class, and Average Rating


93

Reports IX

Scheduler Performance and Scheduler

• Generates data by Facility/District/Area, Scheduler, and Date Range

• Displays the Scheduler, Facility, Total Appointments, Arrival Performance


94

Reports X

Scheduler Report

• Generates data by Facility/District/Area, Scheduler, Mail Class, and Date Range

• Displays the Scheduler, Facility, Scheduled versus Arrival Times


95

Reports XI

Slot Availability Report

• Generates data by Facility, Date Range, and Appointment Type

• Displays the Slot Availability Grid and Volume Availability

• Similar to Appointment Scheduling process


Agenda

96


Mailer Rating



97

Mailer Rating Goals & Overview

• FAST Mailer Rating offers the most efficient drop shipment customers a greater opportunity to schedule appointments

• Mailer Rating encourages higher standards of performance by the mailer community when providing information for incoming shipments at a USPS facility


98

Mailer Rating Process Flow

• Appointments are given individual scores to rate accurate appointment scheduling data. An appointment may not be scored until it is considered finalized.

• Appointments are considered finalized at 12 Days (288 hours) past the scheduled appointment time.

• Appointment rating scores are used when calculating corporate rating.

• Ratings and Tier placement take effect 4 weeks from the appointment date.

Appointments are Locked Down

12 Days

Appointments are RatedDay 12

Corporate Rating is Calculated

Day 13Appointment Date

Rating is Effective 4 weeks from

Appointment Date


99

Example - Mailer Rating Timeline

• Corporate Rating is calculated on August 16th and tiers will be designated based on appointment data from July 7th to August 3rd.

• On August 18th FAST allocates appointment slots according to tier availability for appointments scheduled for September 1st onward.

• Appointment availability for September 1st onward will be based on tier.


100

Mailer Rating Review

Submission Method/Content Detail ( 20 Pts)+

On-Time Accuracy ( 40 Pts)+

Content Accuracy ( 40 Pts)+

Pre-Notification & Irregularity Deductions (10 pts)

_____________________________

Appointment Score

90 & up Tier 180 - 89 Tier 270-79 Tier 3

69 & below Tier 4

USPS Tier Score Range

• Schedulers who are placed in Tier 1 will have greater availability to slots when scheduling appointments than schedulers placed in Tiers 2-4.

• Mailer ratings can have a great effect on future drop shipments and mailer logistics.


101

Tier Percentage and Slot Allocation Functionality

• Slot allocation will always award the first slot to tier 4

• Remaining slots distributed based on tier percentage and the “trickle down” effect starting with Tier 1

• Additionally, if the distribution equals 0.6 of a full slot or greater, a full slot will be allocated to tiers 1, 2 and 3

• The remaining slots will be assigned to tier 4 if not utilized in other tiers

• Partial Slots will carry over to the next available tier:

o If distribution < 0.6

o If a fractional slots remain after allocation (e.g. 0.2 slots will be carried to tier 2 if 1.2 slots are allocated to a tier 1 based on tier percentage)


102

ANY FACILITY (ABC)

Example - Slot Allocation Conversion

Percentage of Total Appointments Scheduled for

Each Tier

Number of Pallet Slots per Hour

Current Functionality 6 Slots At 8 PM

TIER 1 10% 0 slot

TIER 2 5% 1 slot

TIER 3 25% 1 slot

TIER 4 60% 4 slots

Current functionality with 6 Pallet Appointments at 8 PM

First Slot awarded to Tier 4 with 5 Slots Calculated by Tier Percentage

Tier 1: 5 X .10 = .50 (0 slot rounded down)

Tier 2: (5 X .05) + .5 = .75 (1 slot rounded up)

Tier 3: (5 X .25) = 1.25 (1 slot rounded down)

Tier 4: (5 X .60) + .25 = 3.25 (1 slot awarded + 3 slots remaining = 4 slots)


103

• Appointments are given individual scores to rate accurate appointment scheduling data. An appointment may not be scored until it is considered finalized.

• Appointments are considered finalized at 288 hours (12 days) past the scheduled appointment time.

• Appointment ratings do not differentiate between recurring and non-recurring appointments for calculations.

• An appointment’s rating fall into one of three categories:

– Routine (Closed – No Exceptions)

– Exceptions (Routine appointment score is overridden)

– Exemptions (Appointments are not included in rating)

Appointment Rating


104

Routine Appointment Score Calculation

An appointment may receive a score from 0 to 100, with 100 being a perfect score. The appointment’s total score is calculated by adding each individual score together:

Submission Method/Content Detail (20 Pts)+

On-Time Accuracy (40 Pts)+

Content Accuracy (40 Pts)+

Pre-Notification & Irregularity Deductions (10 Pts)_____________________________

Appointment Score


105

Routine Scoring: Submission Method

• Content detail refers to pallet presort information.

• This category is used to encourage schedulers to provide a detailed level of information in an electronic format.

20 points possible

The Submission Method category evaluates corporations on submission method and the level of content detail provided when scheduling an appointment.

Submission Method Points Awarded

Mail.dat or Web Services with pallet presort* 20/20

Web Services without pallet presort or FAST Online 10/20

Phone 0/20

*Pallet presort must be provided for all pallets on the appointment in order to receive 20 points.


106

Routine Scoring: On-Time Accuracy

• The scheduler appointment information is evaluated against the actual performance information.

40 points possible

The On-Time Accuracy category evaluates the schedulers on their ability to meet planned date/time of their appointment.

On-Time Induction Accuracy Points Awarded

On-Time (up to 30 minutes late) 40/40

Late (>30 minutes to 2 hours late) 20/40

Significantly Late (>2 hours to 8 hours late) 0/40


107

Routine Scoring: Content Induction Accuracy

• The actual content of the shipment is evaluated against the scheduled content for the appointment.

40 points possible

The Content Induction Accuracy category compares the actual contents to the planned contents.

Content Induction Accuracy Points Awarded

Accurate (less than or equal to 2 pallets) 40/40

Minor Volume Discrepancy (up to 5 pallets or less than 25 % bedload)

20/40

Major Volume Discrepancy (more than 5 pallets or greater than 25% bedload)

0/40


108

Routine Scoring: Pre-notification Deductions

Pre-notification deductions apply to changes made within 12 hours of the scheduled appointment time and are deducted from the overall appointment score.

Pre-notification Deduction Points Deducted

Create 20

Update (appointment type, significant volume, appointment time) 10

Date Change 40

Location Change 40

Pre-Notification Update Deduction Details -

Appointment Type Update - defined to be from Pallet to Bedload, Speedline to Bedload, or Speedline to Pallet

Significant Volume Update

– If total volume pallet count > 20 and the difference exceeds 10%

– If the total volume pallet count <= 20 and the difference exceeds two pallets

– If the total bedloaded volume difference exceeds 10%

Appointment Time Update – Same day, different time update


109

• Pre-notification deductions and irregularities are additive (i.e. – An appointment that has significant volume change within 12 hours and then arrives with broken pallets, will be deducted 10 points for the significant volume change as well as 10 points for the irregularity).

• Irregularities can include one or more of the following:

• “Other” Irregularity

– Facilities are required to enter comments if “other” is selected as the irregularity.

Irregularities

– Broken Pallets

– Incorrect Appointment Type

– Damaged Mail

– Improper Mail Makeup

– Load Unsafe

– Incorrect Mail Class

– Container counts do not Match Form 8125

– Mailings are not Separated by Form 8125

– Overweight Pallets

– Pallets Too Tall

– Package on BMC Non-Machinable

– Other


110

Exception Rating

Appointments meeting certain criteria are considered exceptions to standard appointment scoring and are scored as follows:

Exception Rating Total Points Awarded

Multiple Appointments per trailer, Rejected, No Show - more than 8 Hours Late and Unscheduled Arrivals

0

Cancelled Appointments – more than 2 hours past creation and more than 12 hours from the scheduled arrival date and time

50

Cancelled Appointments – more than 2 hours past creation and within 12 hours of the scheduled arrival date and time

15

Date/Time Change and Cancelled Appointment – the date or time change occurs within 12 hours of the scheduled arrival date and time and the appointment is later cancelled

15

Incorrect Mail Class 0

Incorrect Appointment Type 0


111

Exemption Rating

The following appointments are always exempt from appointment and corporate rating:

• 100% Periodicals appointments

• 100% perishable appointments

• Delivery Unit drops

• Cancelled appointments within 2 hours of creation


112

Multi-Stop and Holiday & Contingency Constraint

On-Time Multi-stop appointments delayed by USPS

• The first appointment is subject to all rating criteria and full points are awarded for on time arrivals.

• Any subsequent appointments are rated except for On-Time Accuracy*. Full points are awarded as long as no exceptions or exemptions apply.

Appointments updated by USPS due to a Holiday or Contingency Constraint

• Changes resulting from the following criteria will be exempt from rating

– Date Change

– Location Change

– Cancellation

• After the appointment is updated, it is subject to all rating criteria

*Note: If the appointments in the multi-stop get back on schedule, downstream appointments will be rated for on-time accuracy.

Multi-stop and holiday and contingency constraint impacted appointments will be rated as follows:


113

Appointment Timeframes

• If the actual appointment arrival time is earlier than the scheduled appointment time, the timeframe evaluated is from the scheduled appointment date/time to the unload end time, or from the unload start time to the unload end time, whichever occurs first.

• If the actual appointment arrival time is equal to or within 30 minutes of the scheduled appointment time, the timeframe evaluated is from the unload start time to the unload end time.

• If the actual appointment arrival time is greater than 30 minutes after the scheduled appointment time, the timeframe evaluated is from the unload start time to the unload end time.

• If an on-time or early appointment is accepted for unload and is not unloaded within the appropriate timeframe, then this is considered a USPS delay.


114

Drop & Pick Appointments scenarios are explained below:

1. Scheduled appointment for a time period prior to 3pm and vehicle arrived prior to 3pm – 8 hours to unload

2. Scheduled appointment for a time period prior to 3pm, but vehicle arrived after 3pm – 18 hours to unload

3. Scheduled appointment for a time period after 3pm and vehicle arrived prior to 3pm – 18 hours to unload

4. Scheduled appointment for a time period after 3pm, but vehicle arrived after 3pm – 18 hours to unload

Appointment Allowable Unload Times

Anything over the allowable unload timeframe is considered a USPS delay.

8 Hours8 Hours1 Hour1 Hour2 Hours2 HoursP&DCP&DC

8 Hours8 Hours1.5 Hours1.5 Hours3 Hours3 HoursBMCBMC

BedloadBedloadSpeedlineSpeedlinePalletPalletAppointment Type/ Facility Appointment Type/ Facility TypeType

8 Hours8 Hours1 Hour1 Hour2 Hours2 HoursP&DCP&DC

8 Hours8 Hours1.5 Hours1.5 Hours3 Hours3 HoursBMCBMC

BedloadBedloadSpeedlineSpeedlinePalletPalletAppointment Type/ Facility Appointment Type/ Facility TypeType


115

Overview

• Appointment rating scores are used when calculating corporate rating.

• Each corporation is given a separate rating for each USPS facility where they have scheduled appointments.

• Corporations are placed into rating tiers based on their drop shipment performance.

• Tier levels are used for each corporation/facility pair to incent good performance from corporations by reserving a greater number of slots.

Corporate Rating


116

Key Points

• Corporate rating is defined as the average of all non-exempt appointment scores over a 28 day period for a given facility.

• Four operational weeks of data are used to calculate corporate rating.

• Corporate ratings are calculated weekly on Wednesday evenings.

• When a rating is calculated, it becomes effective approximately 4 weeks following the rating calculation.

• Each corporate rating score falls into one of four tiers for each of their rated facilities.

Corporate Rating (cont.)


117

Items to Remember

• Tiers are assigned score ranges for each facility.

• Higher tiers have greater options for available slots.

• Tier ranges are set on a national level, not on a facility level

• Cancelled within 2 hours of creation, 100% Periodicals, 100% perishable and DU appointments will be exempt from rating.

Corporate Rating


118

Corporate Rating Summary Report - View

Facility Average Corporate Rating

Tier

90 & Up Tier 1

80-89 Tier 2

70-79 Tier 3

69 & Below Tier 4


119

Available Slot Based on Tier - View

Example: Slot availability at a given

facility for Tier 1 mailer vs. Tier 4 mailer based

on allocation.

Tier 1

10

10

10

10 10

10

10

10

10

10

10 10 10

10

10

10

10

1010

10 10

Tier 4

3 3 3

3 33

3 33

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3


120

Mailer Checklist

Ensure all drop shipments have an appointment in FAST Ensure the appointment number is on all PS Forms 8125 If a shipment arrives without an appointment number, a Scheduler ID

must be provided. Drivers will be asked to contact the Dispatcher or Scheduler in order to furnish this information

If you are an LTL carrier, or if you use an LTL carrier, you must work together to ensure you meet the requirement of one appointment per truck per stop. Shipments arriving at postal facilities with multiple appointments reduce the opportunity for other schedulers to book appointments. All multiple appointments will be rated zero for the entire appointment

Monitor your Recurring Appointment Performance Report regularly Review all PS Forms 8125 returned from your drivers Schedule accurate content for appointments and update as needed Cancel appointments with more than 12 hours notice Arrive on time for all appointments Monitor your Closeout Data Report and follow-up on discrepancies;

contact facility as soon as possible

Mailer Reminders


121

Mailer Rating Review

• Tiers are assigned score ranges for each facility.• Higher tiers have greater options for available slots.• Tier ranges are set on a national level, not on a facility level.

Mailer Rating ReviewMailer Rating only applies to Standard Mail and Package Services drop shipment appointments; pure Periodicals and perishable appointments are not rated. Mailer Rating does not apply to DDUs.

Tiering

No Show: No Show appointments can be reopened for up to 288 hours after the scheduled appointment date and time in FAST. If you arrived on-time for your scheduled appointment at a given facility, but it was entered as a No Show in FAST, please review the Closeout Data Report in FAST to confirm the status of the appointment, and contact the Facility Coordinator with the signed copy of the PS Form 8125. If the appointment number is not on the PS Form 8125 you will be accepted as an unscheduled arrival.


122

Mailer Rating Review (cont.)

Early Arrivals

Multi-stop

If a multi-stop appointment is delayed by USPS, the first appointment is subject to all mailer rating scoring criteria. Any following appointments are rated except for On-Time Accuracy. Full points for On-Time Accuracy are awarded as long as no exceptions or exemptions apply.

USPS customers are not penalized or rewarded for early arrivals for their drop shipments. It is at the discretion of the USPS facility whether they are able to accommodate an early arrival prior to the appointment time. The original appointment number must be used when accepting an early arrival. If the facility has the availability to accept the shipment it will be processed as on-time. Otherwise, appointments that arrive at the designated time will receive precedence over early arrivals.

If the actual appointment arrival time is earlier than the scheduled appointment time, the timeframe evaluated is from the scheduled appointment date/time to the unload end time, or from the unload start time to the unload end time, whichever occurs first.


123

• If you are an LTL carrier, or if you use an LTL carrier, you must work together to ensure you meet the requirement of one appointment per truck per stop.

• FAST provides the capability for customers to work together in joint scheduling where multiple mail owners can work within one appointment created/managed by the scheduler

• If customers arrive at a USPS facility with multiple appointments associated per load per stop, FAST will rate all appointments with a score of 0.

• For information on Joint Scheduling please review the Joint Scheduling Job Aid at https://fast.usps.com by clicking on the Resources link.

• For further information please refer to Publication 804, Drop Shipment Procedures for Destination Entry.

LTL Carriers

Mailer Rating Review (cont.)

The Slot Availability Report displays all of the available slots (regardless of mailer rating tier) that are currently available at a given facility. Depending on tier placement users may have access to all, some, or none up to 24 hours prior to the appointment date/time for a specified facility. The report can be leveraged to determine the number of slots that could potentially be available.

The Slot Availability Report


Agenda

124




125

What is Full Service

What is Full Service?

• One of Two options for using Intelligent Mail Barcodes (the other option is Basic Service)

• Requires mailers to:o Indicate the induction method

o BMEU or Post Office: Origin Entryo Origin Verified, Mailer Transported: Origin Entryo DMU Verified, USPS Transported: Origin Entryo Plant Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS): Destination Entry

o Use unique Intelligent Mail barcodes on mail pieces, Use Intelligent Mail tray barcodes and Intelligent Mail container barcodes

o Must be unique for 45 days

o Electronically submit postage statements and mailing documentation

o Via Mail.dat or Mail.XML 6060 PRIMACY PKWY STE 201MEMPHIS TN 38188-3333

Address Service Requested

IRENE PAYNE6449 AMBERVIEW CVMEMPHIS TN 38141-8346

PresortedFirst-Class MailU.S. POSTAGE PAIDWashington, DC 20260Permit No. 1


126

FAST and Full Service

Full Service Intelligent Mail Program Benefits:

• Postage discounts

• Support service measurement

• Reduce mail processing costs by improving mail quality

• Start-the-clock information at no additional charge to notify mailers when USPS takes possession of mailings

• Address correction information at no charge for qualified letters and flats that do not have the most current address or that are undeliverable for other reasons, when those pieces are endorsed as specified for OneCode ACS


127



• Appointments/Recurring Appointmentso For Full Service compliance, mailers are required to make origin or

destination entry appointments for all mail that is mailer transported

• Customer/Supplier Agreements (CSAs): o For Full Service compliance, the USPS requires a valid association of

eDoc Customer / Supplier Agreement (CSA) information to the CSA information in the FAST system

o Once the Mailer and USPS finalize and approve the CSA document, the information entered into the FAST system is made available to external users


Agenda

128

FAST Operational Overview

Customer Supplier Agreements


Welcome (Introductions and Objectives)


Agenda

129

FAST Appointments

FAST Coordinators

Postal Facility Types

Facility Factors

What does FAST do for Operations?

Appointment Discrepancies



Agenda

130

Closeout Procedures

Clearance Document – PS Form 8125


Area Maps

No Shows

Redirections

Operational Resources


131


• Electronic appointment system

• Used by 7K plus mailers to schedule mailings at destination entry offices

• 500+ Postal sites are active in FAST


Agenda

132

FAST Appointments

FAST Coordinators


Facility Factors





133

• Provides information about incoming mail volumes – class of mail, type, quantity

• Facilitates scheduling of resources - staffing and equipment

• Optimizes appointment slots so mail arrives during processing windows

• Allows directions of the mail to the correct facility for processing

• Provides general facility information to mailers – location, hours of operation, holidays, contact information, etc.



Agenda

134

FAST Appointments

FAST Coordinators


Facility Factors




135

Each Area has an Area FAST Coordinator:

• Found in Facility Profile – sort by Area

o Northeast

o Great Lakes

o Southeast

o Western

Facility FAST Coordinators:

• Most facilities have a FAST Coordinator

• Works in tandem with Area FAST Coordinator

• Found in Facility Profile – sort by Facility

FAST Coordinators

o Capital Metro

o Eastern

o Southwest

o Pacific

8 Geographical Postal Areas


Agenda

136

FAST Appointments


Facility Factors




137


• Network Distribution Center (NDC)o A mail processing and distribution plant that handles Standard

and Package Services mailings to a large distribution area. There are 21 NDCs in the United States

• Processing & Distribution Center/Facility (P&DC/F)o A central mail facility that processes and dispatches part or all

of both incoming mail and outgoing mail for a designated service area

• Sectional Center Facility (SCF)o A postal facility that serves as the processing center for post

offices in a designated geographic area as defined by the first three digits of the ZIP Codes of those offices. Some SCFs serve more than one 3-digit ZIP Code range.

• Delivery Unito A Post Office, station, branch, or carrier annex that has mail

delivery functions


Agenda

138

FAST Appointments

Facility Factors




Facility appointment availability depends on:

•Appointment Slots

•Volume Constraints

•Holiday and Contingency Constraints

Facility Factors


Agenda

140

FAST Appointments




1. Plant-Verified Drop Shipment - discounted price mailing verified at origin entry office and transported by the mailer to destination entry facility (PS Form 8125)

2. Origin Entry – verified at origin entry office and transported by the mailer to the destination facility (PS Form 8017)

Scheduling FAST Appointments

Two Channels for Scheduling Appointments


• Single Appointment - one time appointment

• Multi-stop Appointment – multiple appointment stops on one truck

• Recurring Appointment - same day or days of the week and time period with approximately same mail type and content, and same transportation o Approval required

o Based on volume and appointment slot availability

• Pallet Appt.– mailing containerized on pallets o Unload 3 hrs for DNDC mailings

o Unload 2 hrs DSCF/DADC mailings

Appointment Types


143

FAST Appointments

• Speedline – palletized mailing < 6 pallet positionso Unload 1.5 hrs for DNDC mailings

o Unload 1 hr DSCF/DADC mailings

• Bedload Appt.– mail directly on floor of vehicleo Unload within 8 hrs

• Drop and Pick Appt. – bedload Parcel Selecto Unload 8 or 12 hrs for DNDC mailings


Agenda

144


Closeout Procedures



Area Maps

No Shows

Redirections




145


• Early Arrivals – mailers that arrive in advance of scheduled appointment time

• Late Arrivals – 31 minutes and up to 24 hours past the scheduled appointment time

• Cancellations – appointment cancelled

• Multiple appointments on same vehicle and destination – only 1 appointment per drop shipment

• No Shows – caused by mailer, postal or system

• Unscheduled Arrival – a drop shipment which arrives without an appointment number


Agenda

146

Closeout Procedures



Area Maps

No Shows

Redirections




147

Closeout Procedures

• System closeout on the docko Surface Visibilityo TIMESo VTAPS/YMS

• Daily Reconciliation by Facility FAST Coordinatoro Daily Appointment Tracking Sheet (DATS)o Manual closeout after 24 hours

Appointments must be closed out in a timely matter. Lack of closeout by USPS causes No Show appointments which

adversely affects the mailer!

Closeout Procedures


148

• Through the Appointment Closeout or the Appointment Management section in FAST, Internal FAST users may:

o Close an open appointmento Re-open an appointmento Reject an appointment

Dock /Facility Coordinator Closeout

Closeout Procedures


149

An appointment may be closed in FAST in two ways:

1. TIMES/VTAPS/SV systems on the dock sending the closeout information to FAST

• The visibility applications transfer the closeout appointment in FAST

• FAST utilizes a batch process to sent and receive the information from the TIMES/VTAPS/SV systems

• FAST updates and closes the appointment with the information that is provided by TIMES/VTAPS/SV

Dock /Facility Coordinator Closeout Procedures

Closeout Procedures


150

2. FAST user manually closes the appointment online and uses the PS Forms 8125/8017

• 8125 (drop ship):• contains the expected

unload information• appointment information of

the scheduled drop ship appointment

• may also be used when creating an Unscheduled Arrival in FAST


Closeout Procedures


151

8017 (Origin Entry)• contains the actual unload information• appointment information of the scheduled Origin Entry appointment


Closeout Procedures


152

• Drop ship appointments can be closed up to 288 hrs (12 days) after the scheduled appointment time

• If the appointment remains “open” after 24hrs, FAST will automatically “no show” the appointment

• A user is able to “re-open” the appointment and enter the closeout information to close the appointment up to 288 hrs past the scheduled appointment time

Drop Ship Appointment Closeout

Closeout Procedures


153

• Origin Entry appointments can be closed up to 120 hrs (5 days) after the scheduled appointment time

• If the appointment remains “open” after 24hrs, FAST will automatically “no show” the appointment

• A user is able to “re-open” the appointment and enter the closeout information to close the appointment up to 120 hrs past the scheduled appointment time

Origin Entry Appointment Closeout

Closeout Procedures


154

Rejecting an Appointment:

• Internal Users have the ability to reject an appointment if the transportation arrives at a Facility and does not meet the specified criteria for delivery of the load is unsafe

Re-Opening an Appointment:

• Internal Users have the ability to re-open an appointment in FAST if the incorrect information was entered when the appointment was closed

Closeout Data Report:

• The Closeout Data Report provides the closeout information for all the appointments associated with an Appointment ID, Publication, Scheduler or eFile number provided by the user

• This report is accessible to Internal and External users Pre/Post –login

Additional Closeout Procedures

Closeout Procedures


Agenda

155



Area Maps

No Shows

Redirections




156

No Shows

Impact on Mailers:• Poor mailer rating• Premium appointments • Lose Full Service discounts

Impacts on the Postal Service:• Lose appointment slots• Distorted expected mailer volume

Impacts of No Shows


157

Causes of No Shows

• Failure to document appointment information SV/TIMES/FAST• Failure to correct or update appointment information within

288 hr time limit• Failure to document refused loads• Appointment does not show in IMD and an unscheduled

appointment is created• Site does not have access to SV/TIMES/FAST and must send

documented 8125 to another facility for input – 8125s may not be received timely or may be lost. Examples – SW and Western Areas

• Staffing limitations – Knowledgeable people may not be available

• Untrained employees• Employees not following procedures

USPS Related Causes


158

Causes of No Shows

• Mailer does not show up• Mailer fails to cancel appointment timely• Mailer records wrong appointment number on 8125• Multiple 8125s on one trailer• Mailer shows up at wrong facility

Mailer Related Causes


Agenda

159



Area Maps

Redirections




160


PS Form 8125, Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Verification and Clearance• 3 Sections – mailer information,

origin Post Office, and Destination Entry Post Office or Delivery Unit

• Mailings accepted and verified at origin office, then transported by mailer to destination office

• Destination entry discount allowed

• Mailer schedules appointment through FAST


Critical fields on PS Form 8125

161

CRITICAL FIELD = Required on the PS Form 8125

If any of these 8 critical fields are MISSING or ALTERED, follow the resolution steps in the PVDS Process Guide. If an irregularity with one or more of these fields cannot be resolved, contact a supervisor to escalate the issue.

Remember: Missing or altered information in NON-CRITICAL fields does not warrant load refusal.


Critical fields on PS Form 8125

162


Agenda

163


Area Maps

Redirections




164


PS Form 8017, Expedited Plant-Load Shipment Clearance

• Similar to PS Form 8125 in design

• Mailings accepted at origin entry office, then transported by mailer to a destination office

• No destination entry discount price allowed

• Mailer schedules FAST appointment through Origin Entry module


Agenda

165

Area Maps


Redirections



166


• Pub 804 – Drop Shipment Procedures for Destination Entry

• FAST Internal User Guide

• PS Form 8125 – Plant Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Verification and Clearance

• PS Form 8017 – Expedited Plant-Load Shipment Clearance

• DEPS User Guide

• PVDS Website

USPS policy and procedures


PVDS Website and Link to Pub 804

http://blue.usps.gov/procops/pvds/pvds.htm


FAST Postal User Guide

FAST/Resources/Reference Documents/USPS Internal User Guide


Agenda

169

Area Maps

Redirections



Southeast

EasternPacific

Great LakesWestern

Western

Southwest

Northeast

Capital Metro

Southeast

EasternPacific

Great LakesWestern

Western

Southwest

Northeast

Capital Metro

Southeast

EasternPacific

Great LakesWestern

Western

Southwest

Northeast

Capital Metro

Southeast

EasternPacific

Great LakesWestern

Western

Southwest

Northeast

Capital Metro

Southeast

EasternPacific

Great LakesWestern

Western

Southwest

Northeast

Capital Metro

Southeast

EasternPacific

Great LakesWestern

Western

Southwest

Northeast

Capital Metro

USPS Geographical Areas


The Northeast Area FY2010


The Eastern Area FY2010


The Western Area FY2010


The Pacific Area FY2010


The Southwest Area FY2010


The Southeast Area FY2010


The Great Lakes Area FY2010


The Capital Metro Area FY2010


Agenda

179

Redirections



Redirections

• What are mail redirections?o Every destination entry discount level (NDC, ADC, SCF and

DU) has a single facility designated as a “default”

o Default facilities are where all destination entry discount mail is to be deposited for delivery

o Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, there are “exceptions” to the default when specific mail (e.g. Standard Letters or Periodical Flats) should be deposited at an alternate location

• FAST’s Drop Entry Point System (DEPS) is used to identify alternate locations and provide the information to mailers via Drop Shipment product files

General Overview


Redirections

• Drop Shipment product files are the ONLY official source of destination entry points

o The “guy on the dock” or other local personnel are not an official source of entry point information

o Sometimes, for a limited period of time, there can be two designated entry points which are official

• Common misconception

o DMM Labeling Lists (e.g. L005 or L601) do NOT define the entry point for destination entered mail

o They are used to identify the presort level of the containers of mail

General Overview (cont.)


182

• Redirections occur when mail is directed to a facility other than the default facility due to the following reasons:o Certain restrictions on the physical characteristics of the

building, such as dock height

o Building construction

o Peak season volumes

o Network and processing operations changes

• Redirections may be temporary or “permanent”

• Redirection information may be entered into DEPS before the start date for advance notification to mailers

• Redirections must be service responsive and mail must be color coded appropriately

Redirections


183

• The Drop Entry Point System (DEPS) within the FAST application is used by USPS staff through the following modules:o Redirection Creation/Managemento Content Identifier Number (CIN) Administrationo CIN Group Administrationo DEPS Resources

• FAST uses redirections created in DEPS in the following ways:o Validations during appointment Creation/Managemento Mail Direction Search Reporto The Facility Profile

– Additional Information page lists the current and future redirections to and from a selected facility

Redirections

Internal Use of Redirections in FAST


• For each level of entry discount, a mailer is required to enter the mailing (combination of shape and class) at one drop ship location

• Policy does not allow ‘splitting’ a mailing based on the presort level of the containers, e.g. 5-digit pallets dropped in one location and 3-digit pallets at another

• No changes in policy for FSS processing at this time

Existing Policy on Drop Shipments for Destination Entry Discounts

Existing Policy – Destination Entry Discounts


• Default and Redirections View:

o Identifies what facility is the default facility

o Displays any existing redirections AWAY from the default

o Used for researching what current situations exist

• Drop Entry Point View:

o Search by specific mail class and mail shape combination

o Displays a one-to-one relationship between mail and entry point

o Does NOT identify where the default facility is

• Multiple discount types can be used with either view.

Mail Direction Search Report Views

The Mail Direction Search Report


• Use Mail Direction Search Report with Default and Redirections View to check each facility

o Search by 3-digit ZIP Code

o Search for all CIN Groups

• Use the report to determine what has already been redirected, if anything

• Check for existing redirections at both the gaining and losing site, making sure the redirection request mirrors any existing redirections at the gaining site

The Redirections Process


• Redirections always start from the default facility and you can not “redirect” redirections

o Old redirections are ended and new ones begin, managed from the default facility

• Do not cancel redirections unless you want mailers to return to the default facility as an entry point

• Use the instructions in 2.3.3, Managing Redirections, in the DEPS user guide to move CIN Groups from one redirection facility to another (not the default) facility



• Always check for existing redirections before adding more

• Use a check list to make sure you have everything completed

• Don’t assume the requestor has ensured the request is service responsive—Ask the questions

• Early entry of redirection information can shorten the grace period

• Effective dates can be changed up to 14 days before implementation to allow flexibility to operations



• DMM Labeling List changes can automatically cancel existing redirections when information on the default facility changes

o Check for changes to L004, L005, L601 and L602

o Changes occur in February, April, June, August, October and December

• Always double check your work

• Ask questions first



Redirections—Common Questions / Comments

• Why can’t all the mail go one place?

o Postal policy dictates that there be a single entry point per mailing (e.g. class and shape). It does not require that all mail for a particular entry discount be dropped in the same location.

• “They told me to go somewhere else.”

o Use the Mail Direction Search report to confirm the destination entry point. o If a grace period is in place, ?????

o Ask how the customer determined the destination entry point (not from Labeling List)

o Ask the name and title of the person saying mail could not be deposited at the designated location. The Drop Shipment product is the official source of destination entry points.


191

• Redirection Creation & Management

• Content Identifier Number (CIN) Administration

• CIN Group Administration

• DEPS Resources

The Drop Entry Point System (DEPS) within the FAST Application facilitates the management of Mail Redirections by Internal USPS users through the following modules:

FAST uses mail redirections created in DEPS in a number of ways:

• Validations during appointment creation & management

• Mail Direction Search Report

• The Facility Profile Additional Information page lists all current and future redirections to and from a selected facility

Drop Entry Point System (DEPS) in FAST


Agenda

192

Customer / Supplier Agreements

Overview/Benefits

CSA Objectives / Definitions

Creating a CSA

CSAs and Full Service Discounts

Common CSA Issues

Internal CSA Users

Please note that effective November 2011, there will be changes to the existing CSA process and modules in FAST.


Agenda

193


Overview/Benefits


Creating a CSA


Common CSA Issues

Internal CSA Users

CSA Verification for Full Service


Overview / Benefits

• A CSA is a written notice that confirms, for a commercial mailer, the Origin-Entry preparation requirements and the acceptance window times necessary for the mail to be considered entered in “Start-the-Clock (STC) Day-0”o STC Day-0 is the date when the clock starts for purposes of

service performance measurement

• May include:o Containerization specificationso Designated postal mail facility entry locationso Time-sensitive mail entry instructions

194

A CSA is not a contract!


Overview / Benefits

• Negotiated agreements are not standardized

• Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) of 2006 mandates service measurement for market-dominant products

• Need to standardize negotiated agreements to ensure accurate and consistent service measurement

195


196

Overview / Benefits

FAST CSA module defines customer-specific Critical Acceptance Times

• Determines Start the Clock Day-0 that is customer-specifico Mail Classo Processing Category (Mail Shape)o Processing Codeo Critical Acceptance Time (CAT)o Entry Facility

• Allows for optional First-Class containerization rules

• CSA information is passed to SASPo SASP calculates container STC Day-0 based on eDoc

(electronic documentation) submission and STC events

• Maps PostalOne! BMEU users to roles in the FAST CSA module


The CSA Process


Agenda

198


Overview/Benefits


Creating a CSA


Common CSA Issues

Internal CSA Users



CSA Objectives

A CSA has 4 primary objectives:

1. Create common understanding regarding “Start-the-Clock” Day-0 criteria

2. Document approved later acceptance times and describe the separation requirements to qualify

3. Describe mail separation and containerization standards not covered in the DMM

4. Provide structured format to support presort software developed for Full-Service requirements

199


CSA Definitions

Arrival Time The time the mailer’s truck is scheduled to arrive at the USPS facility.

Critical Acceptance Time (CAT)

The latest time mail can be presented to have the day as Day-0.

Critical Entry Time (CET) The latest time that a reasonable amount of a class of mail can be received at the platform at designated induction points

Container Destination ZIP® Code

The range of destination ZIP Codes associated with containers in a separation.

Container Ready Time The time that a container must be ready to load onto a truck to provide adequate time for USPS clerk to validate the pallets.


CSA Definitions

Day of Week The day or days to which the separation applies.

Facility Locale Key Standardized facility code that is populated by the system based on the facility selected in Facility Name block

Facility Name The USPS facility to which the mail is dispatched.

Mail Class The class of mail to which the line item separation applies.

Processing Category Field used to distinguish the processing category of the First-Class Mail in a container.

Processing Code General description of the contents of the containers on a trailer.


CSA Definitions

Recurring Appointment Sequence ID

For Origin-Entered, DMU-verified, mailer-transported mail, this field will be populated when a FAST appointment number is present.

Note: The Recurring Appointment Day of Week must match the Transportation Day of Week. If your transportation happens after midnight and the next day falls outside of your recurring appointment days, your recurring appointment should be modified to reflect that day of week. (i.e – A drop at 00:30 Saturday morning will need to map to a Saturday recurring appointment).

CSA Status This field represents a list of enumerated values describing the status that a CSA may be in.


Agenda

203


Overview/Benefits


Creating a CSA


Common CSA Issues

Internal CSA Users



204

Internal CSA Users

Internal CSA User Role

• CSAs may be Created/Managed or Viewed by Internal Users

• In order to access CSAs in FAST, users must add the CSA service to their profile through the BCG

• Only Internal have access to Create and Manage CSAs


Agenda

205


Overview/Benefits


Creating a CSA


Common CSA Issues

Internal CSA Users




A CSA is required for Full Service when:

• Accepted at a DMU and transported by USPS

• Unique First-Class separations are prepared

• Entered at a BMEU after CAT

• Entered at a BMEU and volume warrants multiple entry times

• For Full Service compliance the data from the CSA must be included in eDoc

• For CSA-DMU Verified USPS Transported

• CSA ID

• CSA Trip ID

• Scheduled Ship Date and Time

• Label IM Container and Tray Barcode information


Agenda

207


Overview/Benefits


Creating a CSA


Common CSA Issues

Internal CSA Users



When to Create a CSA

A CSA should be created for any mailer entering mail under the following conditions:

• Mail is origin entered and verified at the mailer’s facility and mailer transported

• Mail is origin entered and verified at the mailer’s facility and postal transported

• Mail entered after Critical Acceptance Time (CAT)


When to Create a CSA (cont.)

Mailers who have origin entered mail verified at a Detached Mail Unit (DMU) and transported by USPS transportation:

• Who prepare First-Class separations not covered in the DMM

• Who enter mail after a Business Mail Entry Unit’s (BMEU) critical acceptance time

• Whose volume warrants multiple dispatches to the BMEU to avoid the entire mailing being presented close to or at the units CAT


Creating a CSA

The user must select the following items:

o Finance Number - Acceptance Siteo Customer name and addresso Mailer Contact Emailo Customer Registration ID (CRID)o Effective Dateo Customer / Supplier Template(s):– DMU Verified – USPS Transportation– DMU Verified – Mailer Transportation– BMEU Verified – Entry After CAT– Unscheduled Trip


Agenda

211


Overview/Benefits


Creating a CSA


Common CSA Issues

Internal CSA Users



Common CSA Issues

• Incorrect processing codes (L, S, WKG, MXDA, MXDS, SP)

• Processing Code Label (Air containers)

• Incorrect use of start the clock indicators (N and P)

• Ensure all required fields are completed (attachment A & B)

• Validate that Label to ZIP Code and Processing Code are unique for each separation.

212


Common CSA Issues (cont.)

• Missing ZIP Codes

• ZIP Codes assigned to multiple containers

• Container minimums

• Trip numbers duplicated, Numeric trip number required – no alpha numeric.

• Multiple CAT time for container

• Incorrect CRID used in FAST

213


Agenda

214


Overview/Benefits


Creating a CSA


Common CSA Issues

Internal CSA Users



First CSA Verification Process

1. Confirming that the CSA conforms to actual operations

2. Confirming that the eDoc is populated correctly and correlates to the CSA

3. Reviewing the Mail Quality Reports

4. Confirming that the Start-the-Clock is being generated correctly and accurately

215

Verification of a CSA by the Business Mailer Support (BMS) can be done in five ways:



216

Confirming that the CSA conforms to actual operations

Reviewing the CSA to ensure that the key details for USPS and Mailer transported trips are accurate:

1. Verify the CSA ID and Active Status

2. View and Download the current active version of the CSA

3. Verify which Origin Entry STC scenarios are being used

4. Compare the electronic CSA to the offline approved/signed off version (confirm they match)

5. Coordinate with the local BME to identify one USPS transported trip and mailing transported trip to observe



217


6. For the USPS transported trip observed, verify that a row in the CSA corresponds to the physical mail being transported

• Trip #• Day of Week• Processing Code• Processing Category• Mail Class• Container Destination ZIP

7. Verify that ‘N’ and ‘P’ have been properly used in the CSA across all trips

• Uses of ‘N’: If the drop (dispatch time) is prior to the CAT and the customer would still want to assign a Start-the-clock of the next day.

• Uses of ‘P’: If the drop is after midnight and the CAT is after the drop, the letter ‘P’ should be used to indicate that the Start-the-Clock will be for the previous day



218


8. For Mailer transported trips

• If a Recurring Appointment is provided, verify that it corresponds to the day of week and timeframe being transported

• Collect a copy of the 8017 form for the trip and verify that its fields are correctly filled

• Verify that the local processing facility is using SV and/or FAST to properly arrive the appointment and perform unload scans


Second CSA Verification Process

219

Confirming that the eDoc is populated correctly and correlates to the CSA

• This process consists of comparing the electronic documentation with the CSA

• To complete this verification process:

o The BMS logs into the Admin Console and confirms that the electronic documentation for a particular job matches the row(s) in the CSA

o Details around correctly mapping the CSA information from FAST to eDocs is dependent on which of the CSA templates is used:

– DMU Verified – Mailer Transported– DMU Verified – USPS Transported– BMEU Verified


Third CSA Verification Process

220

Reviewing the Mail Quality Reports

• This process consists of reviewing the Mail Quality Reports to determine whether CSA verification errors exist

o The Mail Quality Reports are designed to present data detected by PostalOne! and subsystem error detection processing

• This process is intended to summarize compliance error counts and that Full-Service standards are met

• The reports are reviewed and if there is no error, the analysis is complete and the results are sent to the BMS leadership

• If there are CSA errors, the CSA and eDoc business rules and validations are reviewed to determine the cause of the errors


Fourth CSA Verification Process

221

Confirming that the Start-the-Clock is being generated correctly and accurately

• This process consists of using PostalOne! to confirm STC is generated and has appropriate values for each container in a particular job(s)

• For this process the user will access the Business Customer Gateway Full-Service STC Reports

o The total number of containers receiving STC to actual containers is analyzed

o The cause of those containers not receiving STC will need to be determined

– If the cause is not known, the request shall be analyzed further by the analysis team

– The search results and report shall be sent to the mailer and BMS leadership


• https://fast.usps.com/ is the FAST main page

• A list of resources is available on the FAST Resources Webpage

Resources to assist in using FAST


• RIBBS Websitehttp://ribbs.usps.gov/

• A Guide to Intelligent Mail for Letters and Flats

http://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_guides/documents/tech_guides/GuidetoIntelligentMailLettersandFlats.pdf

• To learn more about Mail.Postal Service Mail.XML Technical Specification for Appointment Scheduling (FAST)

http://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_guides/documents/tech_guides/xmlspec/SpecDocs/MailXMLTechnicalSpecFAST.pdf

• Postal Service Mail.dat Technical Specification

http://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_guides/documents/tech_guides/datspec/PostaloneMaildatTechSpec.pdf

Resources


FAST Reference Documents

• FAST FAQs

• Resources > Reference Documents https://fast.usps.com/fast/

– Release Notes

– Customer Job Aids

– Customer Web Based Training Courses

– Mailer Rating Information

– Download User Guides

– Drop Ship Delivery Unit Hours File

– Publication 804

– Domestic Mail Manual

– PS Forms (8125)

– Customer / Supplier Agreements

224