2013-12008. New Postal Product  

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    AGENCY:

    Postal Regulatory Commission.

    ACTION:

    Notice

    SUMMARY:

    The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing concerning the addition of Global Expedited Package Services 3 Contract to the competitive product list. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

    DATES:

    Comments are due: May 22, 2013.

    ADDRESSES:

    Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing Online system at http://www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit comments electronically should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section by telephone for advice on filing alternatives.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel, at 202-789-6820.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Table of Contents

    I. Introduction

    II. Contents of Filing

    III. Commission Action

    IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    I. Introduction

    Notice of filing. On May 10, 2013, the Postal Service filed a notice announcing that it is entering into an additional Global Expedited Package Services (GEPS) 3 contract (Agreement).[1] The Postal Service seeks to have the Agreement included within the GEPS 3 product on grounds of functional equivalence to a previously approved baseline agreement. Id. at 2.

    Background. Customers for GEPS contracts are small- or medium-sized businesses that mail products directly to foreign destinations using Express Mail International, Priority Mail International, or both. Id. at 4. The Commission added GEPS 1 to the competitive product list, based on Governors' Decision No. 08-7, by operation of Order No. 86. Id. at 1. It later approved the addition of GEPS 3 contracts to the competitive product list as a result of Docket No. MC2010-28.[2] The Commission designated the contract filed in companion Docket No. CP2010-71 as the baseline agreement for purposes of establishing the functional equivalency of other agreements proposed for inclusion within the GEPS 3 product. Notice at 1-2.

    II. Contents of Filing

    The filing includes a Notice, along with the following attachments:

    • Attachment 1—a redacted copy of the Agreement;
    • Attachment 2—a redacted copy of the certification required under 39 CFR 3015.5(c)(2);
    • Attachment 3—a redacted copy of Governors' Decision No. 08-7; and
    • Attachment 4—an application for non-public treatment of material filed under seal.

    The material filed under seal consists of unredacted copies of the Agreement and supporting financial documents. Id. at 2.

    Functional equivalency. The Postal Service asserts that the instant Agreement and the baseline agreement are functionally equivalent because they share similar cost and market characteristics. Id. at 3. It notes that the pricing formula and classification established in Governors' Decision No. 08-7 ensure that each GEPS contract meets the criteria of 39 U.S.C. 3633 and related regulations. Id. The Postal Service further asserts that the functional terms of the two agreements are the same and the benefits are comparable. Id.

    The Postal Service states that prices may differ, depending on when an agreement is signed, due to updated costing information. Id. at 4. It also identifies other differences in contractual terms, but asserts that the differences do not affect either the fundamental service being offered or the fundamental structure of the Agreement.[3] Id. at 6.

    Effective date; term. The Postal Service will inform its contracting Start Printed Page 29785partner of the effective date of the Agreement via notice provided as soon as possible, but no later than, 30 days after receiving all necessary regulatory approvals. Id. Attachment 1 at 7. The Agreement is to remain in effect for one calendar year, unless terminated sooner. Id.

    III. Commission Action

    The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2013-62 for consideration of matters raised in the Notice. Interested persons may submit comments on whether the Agreement is consistent with the requirements of 39 CFR 3015.5 and the policies of 39 U.S.C. 3632 and 3633. Comments are due no later than May 22, 2013. The public portions of the Postal Service's filing can be accessed via the Commission's Web site at http://www.prc.gov. Information on how to obtain access to nonpublic material appears at 39 CFR 3007.40.

    The Commission appoints James F. Callow to represent the interest of the general public (Public Representative) in this case.

    IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:

    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2013-62 for consideration of matters raised in the Postal Service's Notice.

    2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission designates James F. Callow to serve as an officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to represent the interests of the general public in this proceeding.

    3. Comments are due no later than May 22, 2013.

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

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    By the Commission.

    Shoshana M. Grove,

    Secretary.

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    Footnotes

    1.  Notice of United States Postal Service of Filing a Functionally Equivalent Global Expedited Package Services 3 Negotiated Service Agreement and Application for Non-Public Treatment of Materials Filed Under Seal, May 10, 2013 (Notice). The Notice was filed in accordance with 39 CFR 3015.5. Id. at 1.

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    2.  See Docket Nos. MC2010-28 and CP2010-71, Order No. 503, Order Approving Global Expedited Package Services 3 Negotiated Service Agreement, July 29, 2010.

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    3.  The list includes, among other things, deletion of an article that appears in the baseline agreement, the addition and revision of articles, the addition of an annex, and related renumbering of articles. See id. at 4-6.

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    [FR Doc. 2013-12008 Filed 5-20-13; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
05/21/2013
Department:
Postal Regulatory Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice
Document Number:
2013-12008
Dates:
Comments are due: May 22, 2013.
Pages:
29784-29785 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. CP2013-62, Order No. 1716
PDF File:
2013-12008.pdf