2011-22367. New Postal Product

AGENCY:

Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service request to enter into an additional agreement under the “International Business Reply Service (IBRS) Competitive Contract 3” product offering. This document invites public comments on the request and addresses several related procedural steps.

DATES:

Comments are due: September 1, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments electronically by accessing the “Filing Online” link in the banner at the top of the Commission's Web site (http://www.prc.gov) or by directly accessing the Commission's Filing Online system at https://www.prc.gov/​prc-pages/​filing-online/​login.aspx. Commenters who cannot submit their views electronically should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section as the source for case-related information for advice on alternatives to electronic filing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel, at 202-789-6820 (case-related information) or [e-mail] (electronic filing assistance).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Introduction

II. Notice of Filing

III. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

On August 19, 2011, the Postal Service filed a notice, pursuant to 39 CFR 3015.5, that it has entered into an additional International Business Reply Service (IBRS) Competitive contract.^[1] The Postal Service requests that the instant contract be included within the IBRS Competitive Contract 3 product. Id. at 3.

In Docket Nos. MC2011-21 and CP2011-59, the Postal Service requested that the Commission add IBRS Competitive Contract 3 to the competitive product list, and that the contract filed in Docket No. CP2011-59 serve as the baseline contract for future functional equivalence analyses of the IBRS Competitive Contract 3 product.^[2]

In support of its Notice, the Postal Service filed the following attachments:

• Attachment 1—a redacted copy of the contract;
• Attachment 2—a redacted copy of the certified statement required by 39 CFR 3015.5(c)(2);
• Attachment 3—Governors' Decision No. 08-24, which establishes prices and classifications for the IBRS Contracts product, and includes Mail Classification Schedule language for IBRS contracts, formulas for pricing along with an analysis, certification of the Governors vote, and certification of compliance with 39 U.S.C. 3633(a); and
• Attachment 4—an application for non-public treatment of materials to maintain the redacted portions of the contract, customer identifying information and related financial information under seal.

The instant contract. The Postal Service filed the instant contract pursuant to 39 CFR 3015 and in accordance with Order No. 178.^[3] It states it will notify the mailer of the effective date within 30 days of receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. The contract will remain in effect for 1 year however, it may be terminated by either party with 30 days' written notice. Notice at 3; Attachment 1 at 4.

Functional equivalence. The Postal Service asserts that the instant contract is functionally equivalent to the IBRS contracts previously filed. Id. at 3. It also asserts that the “functional terms” of the instant contract and the “functional terms” of the proposed baseline IBRS 3 Competitive Contract “are the same, although other terms that do not directly change the nature of the agreements' basic obligations may vary.” Id. at 4. To that end, the Postal Service indicates that prices under IBRS contracts may differ based on volume or postage commitments and when the agreement is signed. It identifies certain customer-specific information that distinguishes the instant contract from the proposed baseline agreement. Id. at 5.

The Postal Service concludes that the instant contract complies with 39 U.S.C. 3633 and is functionally equivalent to the proposed IBRS Competitive Contract 3 baseline agreement in Docket Nos. MC2011-21 and CP2011-59. Id. Therefore, it contends that the instant contract should be included within the IBRS Competitive Contract 3 product. Id.

II. Notice of Filing

The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2011-70 for consideration of matters raised by the Postal Service's Notice.

The Commission appoints James F. Callow to serve as Public Representative in this docket.

Comments. Interested persons may submit comments on whether the Postal Service's filings in the captioned docket are consistent with the policies of 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633 or 39 CFR part 3015. Comments are due no later than September 1, 2011. The public portions of this filing can be accessed via the Commission's Web site (http://www.prc.gov).

III. Ordering Paragraphs

It is ordered:

1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2011-70 for consideration of the matters raised in this docket.

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

3. Comments by interested persons in this proceeding are due no later than September 1, 2011.

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

By the Commission.

Shoshana M. Grove,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  Notice of the United States Postal Service Filing of a Functionally Equivalent International Business Reply Service Competitive Contract 3 Negotiated Service Agreement, August 19, 2011 (Notice).

2.  See Docket Nos. MC2011-21 and CP2011-59, Request of the United States Postal Service to Add International Business Reply Service Competitive Contract 3 to the Competitive Products List and Notice of Filing of Contract (Under Seal), February 11, 2011.

3.  See Docket Nos. MC2009-14 and CP2009-20, Order Concerning International Business Reply Service Contract 1 Negotiated Service Agreement, February 5, 2009 (Order No. 178).