The Locatable Address Conversion System (LACS) service provides mailers an automated method of obtaining new addresses when a 911 emergency system has been implemented. 911 address conversions normally involve changing rural-style addresses to city-style addresses, but in some instances conversions may result in the renaming or renumbering of existing city style addresses. Address Management Systems (AMS) offices across the country collect and transfer information for this database to the National Customer Support Center in Memphis TN.

The LACS service is available only through NCOA licensees. This service is offered as a stand-alone process or as a back-end process with the NCOA service to ensure a high quality mailing list.

Input address information provided by a mailer to the LACS licensee is first standardized according to Publication 28, Postal Addressing Standards to conform with Postal Service® requirements including the ZIP+4® Code. Once the address is standardized and the ZIP+4 Code applied, an attempt is made to match the address against the LACS file. If an exact match is made with the old address information on the LACS file, the LACS licensee is permitted to provide the 911 conversion address to the mailer.

LACS benefits include the following:

• reduces undeliverable mail by providing the most current address information for matches made to the LACS file
• prevents the need for duplicate mailpieces or re-mailings after address corrections are received since the address correction is applied prior to the mailing
• lowers mailer costs by reducing the number of undeliverable and/or duplicate mailpieces by using the most current address information
• provides the opportunity for faster product/service marketing through accurate mail delivery

LACS licensees provide the following to mailers:

• the original input address from the mailer
• the input address, standardized and appended with the ZIP+4 Code, if possible
• a standardized new address when the standardized input address matches the old address on the LACS file
• National Deliverability Index (NDI) report - breakdown of deliverable address information

When no address matches are found, licensees return:

• the original input address
• the standardized ZIP+4 coded version of the input address
• PS Form 3553
• NDI report

A ZIP Code® listing (Microsoft Word Format) contains four columns of ZIP Codes and quantities of records on the LACS database. Currently, there are approximately 5 million records on the LACS database of addresses that have been converted. (e.g., E-911 changes, etc.)

This listing will give mailers a good indication whether or not an area on their mailing list has undergone conversion based on the ZIP Code of their customers.

NOTE: Just because a ZIP Code is found on this list, mailers should not assume that all the converted addresses have made it to the file. There are parts of the country that have only reported a percentage of their changes and therefore, the LACS database is not yet complete.

For more information, contact the National Customer Support Center at 1-800-238-3150.