[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 116 (Friday, June 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14718]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 17, 1994]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Chapter I
Invoicing Procedures for Freight Carriers
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is considering changes to its payment
system to permit the implementation of new software applications. The
Postal Service seeks comments from interested parties, because these
changes would affect invoicing procedures for freight transportation
carriers.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 18, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to: Manager,
Materiel Distribution, U.S. Postal Service, room 1141, 475 L'Enfant
Plaza SW., Washington, DC 20260-6225. Copies of all written comments
will be available for inspection and photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4
p.m., Monday through Friday, at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Frank Scheer, (202) 268-2120.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 39 U.S.C. 401(4), the Postal Service
has the general power to determine and keep its own system of accounts
and the forms and contents of its contracts and other business
documents. In the past, for freight invoicing purposes, the Postal
Service has generally used Government Bills of Lading, Standard Form
1103 (SF 1103), in accordance with the procedures set forth in 41 CFR
101-41.000, et seq. The Postal Service is considering changes to its
payment system that would affect invoicing procedures for all freight
transportation carriers currently handling shipments on Government
Bills of Lading. Shipments of U.S. Mail, household goods, or other
personal property not handled on SF 1103 would not be covered by the
new payment system.
This change would permit the Postal Service to implement new
software applications for freight traffic management. The principal
feature of the new system would be to permit freight carriers to submit
billings either electronically, or by paper invoices using the Public
Voucher, Standard Form 1113 (SF 1113), along with the required
supporting documentation.
New billing procedures would be drafted to provide guidance both
for electronic and paper billing. These procedures would include
information about the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) approval
process, Trading Partner Agreements, submission of electronic invoices,
testing rejection and resubmission of valid invoices, payments, and
suspension of EDI operations. Information about waivers, payee codes,
and other payment processes would also be included.
The Postal Service believes that freight carriers electing to
conduct business electronically should be required to use the EDI
Standards X12, developed by the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) of
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The Postal Service
would obtain commercial EDI Value-Added Network (VAN) services to send
and receive EDI shipping and billing data. Carriers would be required
to use the VAN selected by the Postal Service to transfer data
electronically for these transactions.
Although existing procedures for issuing and paying Government
Bills of Lading for Postal Service shipments will continue, one change
would be required to be consistent with electronic practices, if they
are implemented. Any carrier submitting paper billings would be
required to include its Tax Identification Number (TIN) on the SF 1113.
A TIN for a parent company would also be required if the carrier is a
subsidiary of a parent company. The carrier TIN would be used for
vendor identification during payment processing; the Postal Service
would not assign its own vendor supplier code for this purpose.
In view of the foregoing, the Postal Service requests comments and
proposals from interested parties on the following matters:
1. The level of carrier interest in electronic communications to
replace hardcopy bills of lading and freight bills.
2. The procedures carriers would prefer to see used for handling these
transactions.
3. The impact upon carriers of adding the carrier's TIN to SF 1113.
Comments regarding these matters are requested within 30 days of
the date of publication of this notice. The Postal Service will take
these comments under consideration as it formulates possible changes in
its payment system.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative Division.
[FR Doc. 94-14718 Filed 6-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
