E8-26514. Priority Mail Contract

AGENCY:

Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service request to add Priority Mail Contract 3 to the Competitive Product List. The Postal Service has also filed a related contract. This notice addresses procedural steps associated with these filings.

DATES:

Comments are due November 7, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing Online system at http://www.prc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel, 202-789-6820 and [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

On October 27, 2008, the Postal Service filed a formal request pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR 3020.30 et seq. to add Priority Mail Contract 3 to the Competitive Product List.^[1] The Postal Service asserts that the Priority Mail Contract 3 is a competitive product “not of general applicability” within the meaning of 39 U.S.C. 3632(b)(3). Id. at 1. The Request has been assigned Docket No. MC2009-4.

The Postal Service contemporaneously filed a contract related to the proposed new product pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3632(b)(3) and 39 CFR 3015.5. The contract has been assigned Docket No. CP2009-5. The Postal Service represents that the contract fits within the proposed Mail Classification Schedule (MCS) language.

Request. The Request incorporates (1) a redacted version of the Governors' Decision authorizing the new product and a certification of the Governors' vote; (2) a redacted version of the contract; (3) requested changes in the MCS product list; (4) a statement of supporting justification as required by 39 CFR 3020.32; and (5) certification of compliance with 39 U.S.C. 3633(a).^[2] Substantively, the Request seeks to add Priority Mail Contract 3 to the Competitive Product List. Id. at 1-2.

In the statement of supporting justification, Kim Parks, Manager, Sales and Communications, Expedited Shipping, asserts that the service to be provided under the contract will cover its attributable costs, make a positive contribution to institutional costs, and increase contribution toward the requisite 5.5 percent of the Postal Service's total institutional costs. Id., Attachment D. Thus, Parks contends there will be no issue of subsidization of competitive products by market dominant products as a result of this contract. Id.

Related contract. A redacted version of the specific Priority Mail Contract 3 is included with the Request. The contract is for 1 year and is to be effective 1 day after the Commission provides all necessary regulatory approvals. The Postal Service represents that the contract is consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3633(a) and 39 CFR 3015.7(c). See id., Attachment A and Attachment D. It notes that the expected cost coverage may be impacted if pieces become less dense or travel a longer distance than expected. The Postal Service concludes, however, that the risks are manageable, and the contract is expected to remain profitable. Id., Attachment A.

The Postal Service filed much of the supporting materials, including the Governors' Decision and the specific Priority Mail Contract 3, under seal. In its Request, the Postal Service maintains that the contract and related financial information, including the customer's name and the accompanying analyses that provide the prices, terms, conditions, and financial projections should remain under seal. Id. at 2.

II. Notice of Filings

The Commission establishes Docket Nos. MC2009-4 and CP2009-5 for consideration of the Request pertaining to the Priority Mail Contract 3 product and the related contract, respectively. In keeping with practice, these dockets are addressed on a consolidated basis for purposes of this order; however, future filings should be made in the specific docket in which issues being addressed pertain.^[3]

Interested persons may submit comments on whether the Postal Service's filings in the captioned dockets are consistent with the policies of 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633, or 3642 and 39 CFR part 3015 and 39 CFR 3020 subpart B. Comments are due no later than November 7, 2008. The public portions of these filings can be accessed via the Commission's Web site (http://www.prc.gov).

The Commission appoints Paul L. Harrington to serve as Public Representative in the captioned filings.

III. Ordering Paragraphs

It is Ordered:

1. The Commission establishes Docket Nos. MC2009-4 and CP2009-5 for consideration of the matters raised in each respective docket.

2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Paul L. Harrington is appointed to serve as officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to represent the interests of the general public in these proceedings.

3. Comments by interested persons in these proceedings are due no later than November 7, 2008.

4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the Federal Register.

By the Commission.

Steven W. Williams,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  Request of the United States Postal Service to Add Priority Mail Contract 3 to Competitive Product List and Notice of Establishment of Rates and Class Not of General Applicability, October 27, 2008 (Request).

2.  Attachment A to the Request consists of the redacted Decision of the Governors of the United States Postal Service on Establishment of Rate and Class Not of General Applicability for Priority Mail Service (Governors' Decision No. 08-15). The Governors' Decision includes an attachment which is an analysis of the proposed Priority Mail Contract 3. Attachment B is the redacted version of the contract. Attachment C shows the requested changes in the MCS product list. Attachment D provides a statement of supporting justification for this Request. Attachment E provides the certification of compliance with 39 U.S.C. 3633(a).

3.  Docket No. MC2009-4 is reserved for those filings related to the proposed product and the requirements of § 3642, while Docket No. CP2009-5 is reserved for those filings specific to the contract and the requirements of § 3633.