9-9 Pickup Service for Manifest Mailings

9-9.1 Manifest mailings may be collected at the mailer’s plant if it is determined by the administering postmaster, the district plant manager, and the district manager to be mutually beneficial to the mailer and the Postal Service.

9-9.2 Pickup service requires a standard operating procedure (SOP) that has been developed and approved by the administering postmaster, the district plant manager, and the district manager. The SOP must be attached to the MMS authorization letter or agreement.

9-9.3 The written SOP describing the pickup process must meet the following conditions (see Exhibit 5 for a sample SOP):

1. Minimum volume for this service is 200 pieces or 50 pounds for single-piece rate mail, unless the Minimum Volume Reduction Provision is authorized. Presorted mail must meet minimums as required by the DMM.
2. Mail must be accompanied by the appropriate postage statements, manifest, and other support documentation as required by standards (such as presort documentation).
3. Sufficient funds must be available at the Post Office where the permit is held.
4. The Postal Service employee who picks up the mail must present the mail to the business mail entry unit or equivalent verification and acceptance point approved by the Postal Service.
5. The Postal Service employee who picks up the mail must be given instructions that specify types of mail picked up (including separations of mailings) and required documentation.
6. The standards for postage sampling and verification procedures must be followed.
7. The SOP must describe the mailer’s responsibility and Postal Service safeguards established to ensure proper revenue protection for the pickup of manifest mail.
8. If the pickup SOP is authorized, then the following clause must be included in the MMS authorization letter or agreement:
9. “The Mailer and the Postal Service agree to meet the conditions as described in Attachment (X) for pickup service.”