Keeping it Simple: ACS ™ Services – It’s all in the Service Type ID National Postal Forum May 17 – 20 Kai Fisher – Customer Service Support Analyst, USPS

Keeping it Simple:ACS™ Services –It’s all in theService Type ID

National Postal ForumMay 17 – 20

Kai Fisher – Customer Service Support Analyst, USPS®

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Topics

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Service Type ID Characteristics

Choosing the STID for your mail

New services and STIDs for 2015

Understanding your mail• Mail Class• UAA Disposition & Ancillary Service Endorsements• Address Correction Type • Mail Entry Option• IMb Tracing®

What is a Service Type ID? The Intelligent Mail® barcode allows the 3-digit Service

Type ID field to contain information that USPS® uses to meet your business needs by requesting extra services

These services include:• Mail piece disposition if undeliverable • Address correction options• IMb Tracing®

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STID Characteristics

STID Characteristics Mail Class

• First-Class• Periodicals• Standard• Package Services

Mail Entry Option• Full-Service• Basic• Non-Automation

IMb Tracing®

• Barcode scans that provide status information of a mailpiece

• This discussion addresses Destination IMb Tracing4

STID Characteristics

UAA Disposition• Forward• Return• Discard

Address Correction Type, if any• None• Hardcopy• ACS™

OneCode ACS®

Full-Service ACS Traditional ACS (#B - - - - - -)

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Topics

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Service Type ID characteristics




Understanding Your Mail

Determine Mail Class First-Class Mail® may be required, depending on the

content of your mail.

Periodicals require a special approval.

Standard Mail® must weigh less than 16 oz and include contents that are generally the same regardless of the addressee – like advertising and light catalogs.

Bound Printed Matter – may be either flats or packages and weighs 1 pound or more – frequently a large catalog.

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Undeliverable-As-Addressed Disposition: There are several options:

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Understanding Your Mail

Request address corrections (Manual or ACS™)

Return it

Discard as Waste (First-Class Mail® requires ACS)

Forward or Return it

Forward or Discard it

Forward or Securely Destroy it (ACS is required)

Ask yourself: Do you really need the mailpiece back?You can trust the USPS® to securely destroy your mailpieces.

“Default” Undeliverable Mail Treatment The default treatment for First-Class Mail® is to forward

or return it with no additional postage paid and no separate address correction notice

Periodicals are forwarded for 60 days and an address correction is sent after 60 days (PS Form 3579). Any further pieces are discarded. If Nixie, a notice is sent every time.

Standard Mail® and Bound Printed Matter is discarded with no notice to the mailer

Standard Post, Parcel Select, Media Mail, and Library Mail are forwarded to the addressee as Postage Due. Nixies are returned, forwarding (if appropriate) and return postage is charged.

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Address Service Requested Option 1

• Forward if possible, return if not • Available with Manual or ACS™ notice for forwarded

pieces only• Requires weighted fee for returned Standard Mail®

Option 2 – Available via ACS only• Forward if possible, return if not• ACS notice provided for forwarded and returned pieces • Requires weighted fees for returned Standard Mail

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The weighted (per piece) fee is the First-Class Mail or Priority Mail single-piece price, plus any nonmachinable surcharge multiplied by 2.472; rounding any fractions to the next whole cent. So: 49¢ x 2.472 = $1.22

Change Service Requested Option 1

• All UAA mail is discarded• Available with Manual or ACS™ • Except: First-Class Mail® requires ACS!

Option 2 – Available via ACS only• Forward if possible, all others discarded• ACS notice provided for both• Currently only available for First-Class Mail. • Soon to be available for Standard Mail letters & flats &

Bound Printed Matter with an IMb™.

11No Weighted Fee!

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Return Service Requested Option 1

• Manual Service Type ID & print the endorsement• All UAA mail is returned to sender• No separate notice provided

First-Class Mail® returned at no additional charge Standard Mail® returned at First-Class Mail single-

piece price Option 2 – Available via ACS™ only

• All UAA mail is returned to sender at prices above• ACS notice also provided

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Temp - Return Service Requested Option 1 – First-Class Mail® ONLY

• Manual Service Type ID & print the endorsement• Permanent COA & UAA mail is returned to sender

First-Class Mail returned at no charge• Temp COA - mail is forwarded – no notice provided

Option 2 – Available via ACS for First-Class Mail ONLY• Permanent COA & UAA mail is returned to sender at

no charge• ACS notice also provided• Temp COA - mail is forwarded – no notice provided

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Forwarding Service Requested Option 1

• Forward if possible, return if not• Reason for UAA provided only if returned• This is the same as the ‘default’ treatment for First-

Class Mail• Not recommended for Standard Mail®

• Requires weighted fee for returned Standard Mail• Not available with ACS• Does not meet Move Update standards

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The weighted (per piece) fee is the First-Class Mail or Priority Mail single-piece price, plus any nonmachinable surcharge multiplied by 2.472; rounding any fractions to the next whole cent. So: 49¢ x 2.472 = $1.22

Address Correction Types None Manual

• PS Form 3547 / 3579 – local Post Office™ delivers and collects fees

• Return of the mailpiece may incur fees depending on the mail class

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Address Correction Types Electronic

• OneCode ACS® – delivered via Electronic Product Fulfillment (EPF) account

• Full-Service ACS – delivered via PostalOne!® after the records are associated to qualified mailpieces in the eDoc

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#BWXYZZZ

• Or, get them all in the same file….

• Traditional ACS – delivered via EPF

Alternate ACS™ Record Fulfillment OptionSingleSource ACS Fulfillment:

Provides all records via EPF

Provides all records in one format* with options for additional CSV and XML/XLS formats

Bills monthly for Traditional ACS™, OneCode ACS®, and non-qualifying Full-Service ACS records

Provides all records within 24 hours of receipt at NCSC

* The ACS File Format layout is published at:

https://ribbs.usps.gov/acs/newACSformat/ACSFileFormatTechnicalGuide.pdf

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Identify Your Mail Entry Option to select the proper STID: Full-Service option:

• Provides additional discounts, fee waivers & visibility• Requires the use of an IM® barcode on mail, containers,

and trays, and must submit electronic documentation Non-automation

• Qualifies for some discounts, like carrier route & presort prices

Basic Automation• No discounts, IMb™ required for OneCode ACS®

Full Postage• No barcode required, unless you are requesting OneCode

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IMb Tracing®

IMb Tracing is available at no additional charge Provides near real-time tracking for your First-Class Mail®,

Periodicals, and Standard Mail® letters and flats It can be used on outgoing (Destination) and/or incoming reply

mail (Origin) For more information: https://ribbs.usps.gov/confirm or

https://mailtracking.usps.com/mtr/landing/resources/confirm/landingConfirmLaunch.jsp

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https://ribbs.usps.gov/confirm



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Topics

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STID Information

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ribbs.usps.gov/stids

STID Quick Service Guide

A one-page quick reference to answer some basic questions about STIDs

Describes the different types of ACS™

Steps to selecting a STID Description of ancillary

service endorsements and their ACS options.

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Table of STIDs

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STID Table Structure

Find your Mail Class Choose your Address Correction Option and Ancillary

Service Endorsement Find your Mail Entry Type & IMb Tracing® selection

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Appendix A - STID Details Explanation

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STID

Address Correction Notice

Type

IMb Service Option

ACS Notice Provided to

Mailer

IMb Tracing

Mailpiece Disposition

Requires Printed

Ancillary Endorse-

ment

Recommended ASE Printed on Mailpiece

Allowable ASE Printed on Mailpiece

ACS Option Fees

Meets Move

Update Rqmts

Constraints / Notes

Action taken if barcode is unavailable or invalid

(and based on recommended (A) or allowable (B) printed ancillary endorsement,

if present)


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STID


Type

IMb Service Option


Mailer

IMb Tracing


Requires Printed

Ancillary Endorse-

ment



ACS Option Fees

Meets Move

Update Rqmts

Constraints / Notes



if present)


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STID


Type

IMb Service Option


Mailer

IMb Tracing


Requires Printed

Ancillary Endorse-

ment



ACS Option Fees

Meets Move

Update Rqmts

Constraints / Notes



if present)

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Topics

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Choosing the STID for your mailing



ACS™ account required prior to use

• Complete the ACS Enrollment Form at: https://ribbs.usps.gov/acs

• Contact [email protected] for assistance

Invoice will be provided monthly to:

• ACS Account (SingleSource ACS, OneCode ACS®, or Traditional ACS) delivered via EPF

• The ACS Billing profile for the MID

• The CRID that holds the MID29

New in 2015 - Change Service Requested Opt 2 for Standard Mail® Letters & Flats and Bound Printed Matter

New in 2015 - Change Service Requested Opt 2 for Standard Mail® Letters & Flats and Bound Printed Matter

IM® barcode with proper STID is required

Not available with manual address corrections

Forward if possible, discard if not possible; ACS™ provided

Forwarding fee charged based on mail class and shape

• Standard Mail Letter – Proposed 45¢

• Standard Mail Flat – Proposed $1.40

• Bound Printed Matter – Proposed $3.15

Forwarding fee and ACS fee charged via ACS account

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STID Table: Change Service Requested Option 2for Standard Mail®

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Do not use before launch date!

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STID Table: Change Service Requested Option 2for Bound Printed Matter

Do not use before launch date!

ACS Billing Profile

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Let’s Practice

You’re a Full-Service mailer.

You’re sending advertising mail to customers in your local trade area.

You want electronic address corrections.

You want to know where your mail is in the postal system.

You don’t want the undeliverable pieces to be returned to you.

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Practice SolutionAppendix A: Ancillary Services - Service Type Identifier (STID)Detailed Explanation

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Let’s Practice

You’re a not a Full-Service mailer and you’ve never received electronic address corrections before.

You’re sending medical insurance information to your customers.

You want the mail forwarded if they have moved.

Since this mailing contains sensitive information about their health and health coverage, you want all mail that cannot be delivered to be Securely Destroyed by the USPS®.

You want to track your mail.

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Practice Solution

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Appendix A: Ancillary Services - Service Type Identifier (STID) Detailed Explanation

What are my search words?

Mail Class:• Basic/Non-automation First-Class Mail®

IMb Tracing®:• Destination

Anything else?• Secure Destruction

ribbs.usps.gov/securedestruction

Let’s Practice

You’re a Full-Service mailer.

You’re sending catalogs that weigh 16 ounces to specifically targeted potential and known customers.

You want electronic address corrections.

You want the catalog to be forwarded if the customer has moved, but you don’t want them to pay any forwarding postage.

But you don’t want them back if they can’t be delivered or forwarded.

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Practice Solution

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Appendix A: Ancillary Services - Service Type Identifier (STID) Detailed Explanation

What are my search words?

Mail Class:• Full Service Bound Printed Matter

IMb Tracing®:• None

Anything else?• Forwarded if possible• UAA discarded

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Topics – Review

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Choosing the STID for your mailing



General Advice to Mailers – Do’s & Don’ts

Don’t request forwarding & return for Standard Mail® (Forwarding Service or Address Service Requested) unless you are willing to pay 2.472 x the single-piece price to get it back.

Don’t use the ancillary service endorsement “Electronic Service Requested” if you are not requesting an ACS electronic address correction in the IMb™.

Don’t request the return of your mailpiece if all you really need is the updated address information/reason for nondelivery. Use Change Service Requested instead and Secure Destruction if you need it.

Don’t print an ancillary service endorsement that conflicts with the Service Type IDs in the IMb. The printed endorsement overrules the STID in the IMb when they don’t match. When in doubt, use Electronic Service Requested unless the disposition of the mailpiece when the IMb cannot be read is not acceptable to you. Use Appendix A to learn the risks involved.

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General Advice to Mailers – Do’s & Don’ts

Do incorporate ACS into your mailings.

Do consider allowing First-Class Mail® that you don’t need returned or you don’t want forwarded to be discarded by the USPS®.

Do consider letting the USPS securely destroy your sensitive mail.

Do use both Table 4 for the quick lookup and Appendix A for the details about the STIDs, associated endorsements, constraints, and what happens to the piece if the barcode isn’t read.

Do plan for STID changes and additions in your mail preparation software.

Do go to the RIBBS STID page and subscribe to the feed to be notified when there is news or updates.

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Service Type ID Resource Page on RIBBS®

Provides current links to:• STID Table • Appendix A• IM® barcode specifications• IM® barcode ID table• A list of informative resources• Future STID Table

(90 days prior to effective date)• Future Appendix A

(90 days prior to effective date)

Sign up for the RSS feed to be notified when documents are updated – never miss new opportunities!

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Resources for Service Type IDs

Service Type ID (STID) page with RSS feed

https://ribbs.usps.gov/stids A Guide to Intelligent Mail for Letters and Flats:

https://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_mailpieces/documents/tech_guides/stid.pdf

Appendix A: Ancillary Services –Service Type Identifier (STID) Detailed Explanation:

https://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_guides/documents/tech_guides/AncillaryServices_STID_Detailed_Explanation.pdf

IMb Tracing® home page:


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https://ribbs.usps.gov/stids

https://ribbs.usps.gov/stids








MondayColleges and University Addressing: Issues and Opportunities

Jim Wilson / Richard Boudrero – Beginner – Period 7, 11 am

Keeping It Simple: ACS™ Services – It’s All in the Service Type IDKai Fisher – Intermediate – Period 7, 11 am

Growing a Great Address Quality FoundationEd Wanta / Wanda Senne –Beginner – Period 9, 2:45 pm

Your Software is Talking, Are You Listening?Angela Lawson / Chris Lien – Intermediate – Period 10, 4 pm

SundayDemystifying UAA – Where did it come from? How can we fix it?

Jim Wilson / Gary Seitz – Beginner – Period 6, 4 pm

USPS® Co-Presentations Schedule

TuesdayLeveraging the NCSC RIBBS Site – Understanding What’s Available to You

Ed Wanta – Delivery Solutions Theater, 1:30 pm

Wednesday360o Perspective of Address Element Correction (AEC)/AEC II®

Angela Lawson / Dan O’Brien – All Levels – Period 16, 8 am

Documents

Keeping it Simple: ACS ™ Services – It’s all in the Service Type ID National Postal Forum May 17 – 20 Kai Fisher – Customer Service Support Analyst, USPS