Business Reply Mail® with Intelligent Mail® Barcodes INTRODUCTION Business Reply Mail® (BRM) permit holders can migrate to the Intelligent Mail® barcode (IMb) by replacing the POSTNET™ barcode on BRM letters and postcards. INTELLIGENT MAIL BARCODE DATA FIELDS FOR BUSINESS REPLY MAIL The IMb contains 31 digits, which are represented as five separate fields when creating an IMb. See the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 507.9.9. The options available for producing an IMb for BRM are: Without – Origin Confirm Barcode Identifier = 00 Service Type Identifier = 708 Mailer Identifier(MID) = 6 or 9 digits Serial Number = Unique # optional 6 or 9 digits Routing Code = 9-digit ZIP + 4 Code assigned to BRM With – Origin Confirm Barcode Identifier = 00 Service Type Identifier = 502 Mailer Identifier(MID) + Serial Number = Open digits to uniquely identify each mailpiece. MID is not required with Origin CONFIRM Routing Code = 9-digit ZIP + 4 Code assigned to BRM 1. Barcode Identifier: Describes the level of presort qualification for the mailpiece. Since BRM is entered as single-piece, the value for this field is always “00”. 2. Service Type Identifier: Contains the class of mail and the services mailers may request from the Postal Service. The only service available with BRM is Origin CONFIRM. The CONFIRM service allows mailers to track their mailpieces electronically. 3. Mailer Identifier (MID): Assigned by the Postal Service and used to identify the mailer. BRM permit holders may use the same MID applied to their outbound mail or request a separate MID for BRM. MIDs assigned to the Electronic Verification System (eVS) may not be used on BRM pieces. Origin Confirm subscribers are not required to use a MID. 4. Serial Number: Unique serial numbers are not required for BRM. Mailers may encode the serial number field with any number including all zeros. A 9-digit serial number is used with a 6-digit MID and a 6-digit serial number is used with a 9-digit MID. 5. Routing Code: The ZIP+4 Code for BRM is assigned by the destination Post Office and is not the same as the company’s physical street address. BRM permit holders must use their assigned BRM ZIP+4 Code when creating an IMb. The Routing Code field must never be populated with zeroes, spaces or nulls; DMM 507.9.9. BARCODE PLACEMENT The IMb may be placed either in the address block or the barcode clear zone (this is not a change); see DMM 507.9.7.5. HORIZONTAL BARS The preferred design for BRM includes horizontal bars below the “No Postage Necessary if Mailed in the United States” imprint. The bars provide a visual alert and help ensure postage is collected. However, since the IMb provides greater visibility for BRM mailpieces as they travel through the postal system, mailers have the option to design BRM letters and cards, with or without horizontal bars. This option only applies to BRM with IMb; see DMM 507.9.8.7. FACING IDENTIFICATION MARK (FIM) The FIM serves to orient and separate certain types of First-Class Mail. A FIM C is used for BRM with a barcode. The FIM B is used with BRM without a barcode, should not be used with the IMb; see DMM 507.10.3.7. LEGEND No changes have been made to the BRM legend requirements. CREATING BRM WITH IMB The first step for BRM permit holders is to obtain a MID. Mailers may use the same MID used for their outbound mail or request a separate MID for BRM. Exception: MIDs assigned for the Electronic Verification System (eVS®), for high-volume package mailers, may not be used for BRM. Mailers requesting a MID can go to http://www.usps.com and select the Business Customer Gateway located on the bottom right corner of the web page. New users will need to register (BRM permit holders who previously used usps.com to produce camera-ready artwork can use the same user name and password). After successfully logging onto the Business Customer Gateway, select the "Mailer ID" link to obtain a MID. Many printers throughout the country are equipped to assist BRM permit holders in designing mailpieces with an IMb. The following options are also available. • Camera ready artwork is available on usps.com at no charge. To use this option, mailers will need an MID and a BRM Permit issued by a Post Office with the PostalOne! System. Here are the steps for creating BRM artwork on usps.com: o Go to https://abrm-prod.usps.com/ABRM/landing.do and login. The user name and password are the same as the Business Customer Gateway. New users may need to register. o Select the type of reply mail you want: Courtesy Reply Mail, Business Reply Mail, or Qualified Business Reply Mail. http://pe.usps.gov/mpdesign/mpdfr_intro_all.asp o Follow the steps to create camera-ready artwork. Previous users may select existing designs from the Mailpiece Library. o The MID you use to create your mailpiece design must be associated to the business address in your user profile. For more information about associating MIDs, visit https://gateway.usps.com • PC-based software that enables mailers to create the IMb artwork in-house can be purchased through a number of vendors. Mailers who choose this option should also consider purchasing a scanner to confirm the accuracy of the barcode. A list of vendors can be found online: https://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_mailpieces/documents/tech_guides/USPSIMB_Resources_List.pdf TRANSITION FROM POSNET TO IMB All mailers should begin making plans to convert their BRM to IMb. The Postal Service is aware that BRM has a long shelf life and it will take some time for this mail to circulate out of the postal system. To facilitate the transition from POSTNET to IMb, the following guidelines will apply: • The Postal Service will continue to process all BRM, with or without an IMb. • Basic BRM and High Volume BRM mailers will be charged the prevailing price for all mailpieces with or without an IMb. We recommend a review of the mailpiece with the IMb prior to distribution. • Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM) permit holders currently approved for QBRM prices should transition to the IMb. QBRM mailers are not required to submit samples for QBRM approval when transitioning to the IMb. Mailers may convert to the IMb without sampling but we recommend a review of the mailpiece prior to distributing QBRM pieces with the IMb. Permit holders currently approved for QBRM prices do not need to re-apply for QBRM service. ORIGIN CONFIRM SUBSCRIBERS Mailers who use Origin CONFIRM will need to generate an IMb with a unique Serial Number for each BRM mailpiece and are not required to include a MID in the IMb. Many find the most efficient way to do this is have the barcode appear through a window envelope. Unlike outbound pieces where presorting or other software typically assigns sequential Serial Numbers, IMbs for Origin CONFIRM usually have non-sequential Serial Numbers that relate to customer accounts or other meaningful information. As such, the specific 31 digit data payload needs to be run through a translation process to create the 65 character string as part of the personalization process. Mailers need to determine whether the personalization software their vendors use can convert the 31 digits. STEPS TO GETTING STARTED • For additional information about Business Reply Mail, refer to the Domestic Mail Manual 507.9. • For additional information about IMb, including how to obtain a Mailer ID, refer to: http://ribbs.usps.gov