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What is PASS?
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| The PostalOne! Assignment Support System (PASS) is a new program for existing and prospective PostalOne! partners and PostalOne! Transportation Assignment System vendors. The objective of the program is to maximize the benefits through standardization, process improvement, and quality control. PostalOne! partners who demonstrate through testing that their facilities or systems have attained the optimal operating conditions are awarded PASS Certification.
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What are the benefits of PASS?
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| If you are a major First-Class Mail® business mailer, attaining certification means that you have optimized your use of the PostalOne! Transportation Assignment System and are enjoying the maximum return on your investment in equipment. It means that you have maximized the value-added work your employees perform and demonstrates the return on your investment in training. And it is a way to demonstrate to your customers that you are doing your best to find new ways to leverage technology and better serve them.
If you are a PostalOne! Transportation Assignment System manufacturer or vendor, certification assures your customers that your system has been tested and proven to meet all PostalOne! requirements and standards.
Whether you are a mailer or vendor, certification means you are maximizing your potential.
Major mailers participating in the PostalOne! program are required to obtain certification within three months of entering the program. Mailers who were in the program before March 2002 are also required to obtain certification. Certification of mailers is necessary to ensure that the scarce resources of the S-AMS system are utilized to their fullest potential to the benefit of the mailers, and is required under authority from the PostalOne! program office.
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What types of PASS certification are offered?
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| The Postal Service™ offers two types of PASS Certification:
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Vendor System Certification |
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Mailer Certification |
Mailer Certification is granted to PostalOne! participating plants which have met the certification standards. Certification applies to individual plants, rather than the entire company. Major changes in staff or equipment may require recertification.
Mailer Certification is achieved in phases. Phase 1 is pre-qualification; its purpose is to ensure that the mailer is qualified and capable of participating. Passing Phase 1 permits the mailer to install a PostalOne! Transportation Assignment System.
The mailer then enters Phase 2, post-installation testing. Passing Phase 2 indicates that the system has been installed, operates correctly and meets PostalOne! standards. Upon the successful conclusion of Phase 2 testing, the mailer has satisfied the requirements and is effectively utilizing the shipping system. The mailer is then awarded PASS Mailer Certification.
On an ongoing basis, the mailer is periodically recertified. In Phase 3 the mailer is tested to verify that they are continuing to use the system correctly, that the staff understands the PostalOne! program, and are able to use the transportation assignment system to its fullest potential. Upon passing Phase 3 testing, the facility's certification is renewed.
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Certification Criteria
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| The overall objective of Mailer Certification is to ensure that the mailer's facility is in compliance with PostalOne! regulations and standards.
The Phase 1 Pre-Qualification Interview seeks to ensure that:
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the mailer is qualified to participate, and |
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the mailer is capable of participating. |
The Phase 2 Post-Installation Test seeks to ensure that:
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the system has been installed properly, |
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the system is operating correctly, |
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the system is able to dial in and connect to the USPS® Transaction Concentrator, |
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the system is able to assign transportation correctly, |
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the mailer is adhering to the PostalOne! implementation guidelines, |
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the mailer is maintaining the system log consistently and accurately, |
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the mailer's staff are adequately trained, |
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the mailer has sufficient contingencies to handle system failures, |
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the mailer operates the equipment properly, and |
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the mailer maximizes its use of the PostalOne! Transportation Assignment System. |
Phase 3 Post-Implementation Follow-up seeks to ensure that:
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the mailer is adhering to the PostalOne! implementation guidelines, |
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the mailer is maintaining the system log consistently and accurately, |
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the mailer's staff are adequately trained, |
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the mailer has sufficient contingencies to handle system failures, |
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the mailer operates the equipment properly, and |
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the mailer maximizes its use of the PostalOne! Transportation Assignment System. |
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Applying for Certification
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| After you complete the Mailer Certification application form, you will be contacted by your local PostalOne! coordinator and an interview date will be arranged. If you are already a PostalOne! participant, you are automatically Phase 1 qualified. If you pass the Phase 1 interview, you may proceed with the installation of your PostalOne! system. After installation and at least one month of experience operating the system, you may schedule the Phase 2 installation test. Depending on the level of certification awarded, the mailer may opt to retake the test. After successful completion of the test, the mailer will be awarded PASS Mailer Certification. Phase 3 provides periodic ongoing certification to verify that the mailer is effectively and properly utilizing the PostalOne! Transportation Assignment System.
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Certification Renewal
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| Certification automatically expires based on the results of your last certification test. Prior to the expiration date, you should submit an application for certification renewal along with your log book detailing maintenance, upgrades, and any other changes to the system or facility. The PostalOne! program office will review your application and documentation and decide the extent of retesting required and arrange a test date.
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Recertification
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| Recertification of your facility may be required if any of the following occur:
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PostalOne! Transportation Assignment System hardware is changed. Applies to major components only, not to spare parts, identical replacements or minor upgrades. |
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PostalOne! Transportation Assignment System software is changed. Applies to the individual applications and excludes minor upgrades and maintenance. |
It is the responsibility of the mailer to maintain a system log and notify its national account manager or business center if any of these events occur. The PostalOne! program office will decide if recertification will be required and the extent of retesting necessary.
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Forms
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| Mailer Certification Testing Version 1.0 (PDF)
Mailer Certification Testing Version 1.0 (RTF)
PASS Mailer Application Form (PDF)
PASS Mailer Application Form (RTF)
Download Adobe Reader
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