What Is The Difference Between Registered And Certified Mail Usps?

709 Negotiated Service Agreements

Overview

i.0 General Requirements for Negotiated Service Agreements (NSAs)

1.0 General Requirements for Negotiated Service Agreements (NSAs)

1.1 Basic Information

1.i.1 Definition and Purpose

A negotiated service agreement (NSA) is a customized and mutually beneficial contractual agreement betwixt the USPS and a specific mailer (client or organisation). An NSA provides for customized pricing, prices, and classifications nether the terms and atmospheric condition established in the NSA and may include modifications to current mailing standards and other postal requirements. Any mailer may submit an application for an NSA if the mailer meets the requirements in ane.two and follows the process in i.3.

one.1.two Legal Framework

Terms and conditions of an NSA affecting prices or classifications require that the USPS request a recommended decision from the Postal Regulatory Committee before the USPS may approve and implement the NSA. NSAs must exist recommended and approved nether 39 UsaC. 36 and the Postal Regulatory Commission'south rules of practice and process.

ane.2 Candidate Factors and Requirements

1.2.1 Factors

The USPS considers the following factors in evaluating whatsoever candidate's NSA proposal:

Candidate'south presentation of data equally requested past the USPS to document the following:

Electric current mailing systems, postage payment systems, and quality control procedures and programs.
Historical data showing postal service volumes and utilise of specific mail service services or mailpiece characteristics, as applicative. The candidate, as necessary, must as well provide the effect on mail volumes of any corporate mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and similar events.

Candidate's ability to make and nowadays in an acceptable format accurate forecasts of futurity mail service volumes for USPS products and services proposed for an NSA.
Candidate'due south ability to collect necessary information in an acceptable format to back up an NSA.
Candidate'south willingness to establish and maintain electronic systems and quality control programs as specified by the USPS for paying postage and generating records to facilitate monitoring and reconciling postal service volumes, prices, and fees, including volumes and postage paid by a postal service grooming agent on behalf of the candidate.
Candidate's product of mail using a formal system to ensure proper mail preparation and authentic postage stamp calculations.
Candidate's utilise or planned implementation of a Certified Mail service training total quality plan to ensure proper mail preparation and to provide authentic documentation of mailings and postage payment.

i.2.ii General Requirements

No proposed NSA may accept an overall negative financial impact on the USPS. Whatsoever proposed NSA must also comprise, at a minimum, the following general candidate requirements and conditions:

The candidate must let USPS inspection of mail content to determine price eligibility.
The candidate must prepare mail service nether current applicable mailing standards, unless they are to be modified under a proposed NSA.
The candidate must meet and adhere to quality management standards for the classes of mail and prices claimed.
The candidate must make bachelor to the USPS necessary records and data related to the NSA in a form that facilitates monitoring of compliance with the terms and weather of the NSA.
The candidate must provide proper specified notice to cancel the NSA.
The USPS has the right to abolish the NSA at any time with specified proper notice for any failure or, where appropriate, fabric failure of the mailer to:

Employ the NSA inside the time menses specified in the NSA.
Provide accurate data, nowadays properly prepared and paid mailings, or comply with whatsoever other textile term or status in the NSA.

The candidate must appoint counsel and file testimony as necessary in support of the NSA earlier the Postal Regulatory Commission.

ane.iii Application Process

1.3.one Initial Proposal

A mailer seeking to enter into an NSA with the USPS must submit a written proposal, with appropriate supporting documentation, to the USPS managing director of Pricing Strategy (meet 608.8.0 for accost). The proposal must contain the reasons for requesting the NSA along with a summary of the information responding to the applicable candidate features and full general requirements described in 1.2. A nondisclosure agreement must be signed earlier any noun word of the proposal.

i.3.2 Negotiations and Contractual Agreement

As a result of the proposal, the candidate and the USPS may enter into negotiations to constitute an NSA, with terms and weather condition specific to the candidate, that is either a functionally equivalent NSA (i.e., comparable to an existing baseline NSA) or a new baseline NSA (i.e., not comparable to an existing NSA). A candidate in the negotiation procedure may withdraw a proposal for an NSA at any time prior to the execution of the NSA. Once the NSA is executed, the NSA is controlled by its terms and atmospheric condition.

i.3.3 Additional Consideration

If the USPS decides to end negotiations with the candidate before reaching an agreement to enter into an NSA under one.1, the manager of Pricing Strategy notifies the candidate in writing and gives the reasons for the decision. Within 15 days from the receipt of the written explanation, the candidate may ask for reconsideration of the manager's decision. The candidate's request for reconsideration must include additional information and reasons why negotiations for an NSA should exist resumed. The candidate submits the request for reconsideration through the manager of Pricing Strategy to the vice president of Pricing and Nomenclature (see 608.8.0 for address).

1.4 Market place Dominant Splendid Mail and USPS Marketing Mail Letters NSAs

one.iv.ane Definition and Purpose

The Beginning-Course Mail and USPS Marketing Mail NSA is based on the combined total revenue of First-Course Mail automation letters, USPS Marketing Mail service automation letters, and USPS Marketing Mail carrier route automation letters, and provides an incentive to encourage the growth of Get-go-Grade Post. A baseline is adamant from the revenue generated from First-Grade Mail automation messages, USPS Marketing Mail automation messages, and USPS Marketing Mail carrier route barcoded automation-compatible letters that are mailed as and eligible for full-service Intelligent Mail prices (705.23.0) during a prior specified 12-month period of time. It includes a postage threshold that is adjusted from the baseline to qualify for a rebate. If the adjusted revenue threshold is met, a rebate is generated on a percentage of the deviation of an increment in postage as a event of a subsequent cumulative First-Course Mail and USPS Marketing Mail price increase related to the prices in existence at the time of the agreement. If the adjusted revenue threshold is not met, the NSA holder volition pay a penalty.

1.iv.2 Candidate Factors and Requirements

Potential participants must be IMb full-service customers with extensive, just failing Beginning-Class Mail volumes and significant additional volumes of USPS Marketing Mail. Candidates must also run into the standards in one.1 through one.3 to qualify. The basic agreement comprises 5 components:

Revenue threshold: Is based on the amount of total combined postage paid for Fantabulous Mail automation letters, USPS Marketing Mail automation letters, and USPS Marketing Mail carrier route barcoded automation-compatible letters. The baseline for the revenue threshold is the total stamp for these categories over the previous one-year period. The threshold is calculated at a negotiated percentage above the baseline for each yr during the elapsing of the agreement.
Acquirement threshold adjustment: Volition be adjusted upwards by a negotiated amount for every dollar decline in Beginning-Grade Mail postage. To authorize for rebates under this adjustment, a pre-adamant acquirement corporeality of USPS Marketing Mail must be mailed to outset each dollar reject in postage from First-Grade Mail.
Postage commitment with penalization: The postage commitment is an amount equal to the adjusted acquirement threshold. If the amount of total postage stamp from eligible mail in the first year of the contract is less than the adjusted revenue threshold, a negotiated percentage penalisation in the amount of the divergence between the adjusted revenue threshold and the actual total stamp paid for contract year 1 must be paid. Subsequent year penalties for failing to meet the adjusted acquirement threshold are negotiated by the parties within nine months of the end of the previous contract year.
Rebate on Kickoff-Class Mail: If the mailer property the agreement exceeds the adapted revenue thresholds in any given year of the contract, information technology will earn rebates on its qualifying Showtime-Class Mail postage. The rebate will be equal to a negotiated percent of the increase in postage as a upshot of a subsequent cumulative price increase (relative to Starting time-Grade Mail service prices in existence at the initiation of the agreement) for all qualifying pieces.
Rebate on USPS Marketing Mail service: If the mailer holding the understanding exceeds the adapted revenue thresholds in any given yr of the contract, it will earn rebates on its qualifying USPS Marketing Mail service stamp. The rebate will be equal to a negotiated percentage of the increase in postage equally a result of a subsequent cumulative price increment (relative to USPS Marketing Mail prices in existence at the initiation of the agreement) for all qualifying pieces.

one.iv.3 General Requirements

Whatsoever proposed First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail service NSA under this nomenclature must also contain, at a minimum, the following general candidate requirements and atmospheric condition:

The NSA expires 3 years from the constructive engagement. Either party can terminate the agreement, without penalty, for convenience prior to the last 90 days of each contract twelvemonth with 90 days written discover to the other party.
The NSA will contain a merger and acquisition clause, which adjusts the threshold to account for increased mailing activity (or decreased, in the case of a sale or closure).

1.4.iv Initial Proposal

The proposal must explain how the candidate meets the requirements in 1.4.2 and also must see the following conditions:

The candidate must submit a written proposal that includes advisable supporting documentation to the manager of Correspondence & Transactions (see 608.8.0 for address).
The proposal must be initiated by the mailer and include a summary of the information responding to the applicative candidate features and full general requirements described in 1.iv.3.
A nondisclosure agreement must be signed earlier whatsoever substantive discussion of the proposal begins.