**Facility Access and Shipment Tracking System (FAST)**

**General Design**

**Application Area: Batch**

**Package Name: MAIL DIRECTION and ZIP CIN File**

> **Deliverable Number: 114**
>
> **Version 2.5**

**11/13/2023**

Contract Number: 102590-98-H-1651

Delivery Order Number: **1BITTL-04-D-5248**

Network Operations Management Systems Portfolio

USPS Program Manager: Carla Siniscalchi (202) 268-4059

Accenture Point of Contact: Sara Koike (703) 947-1996

**[Revision History]{.underline}**

  ------------ ----------------- ------------------------------------------
  **Date**     **Author**        **Description**

  2/16/2006    Marty Andolino    Initial Creation

  2/20/2006    Marty Andolino    Updated per Steven Baskette's review

  2/24/2006    Marty Andolino    Changed File Name to indicate MAIL
                                 DIRECTION instead of MAIL REDIRECTION

  03/02/2006   Andrey Utis       Added last update date

  04/29/2006   Marty Andolino    Made general updates; added Perishable
                                 Indicator to Mail Class
  ------------ ----------------- ------------------------------------------

**Table of Contents**

[1.0 Introduction 4](#introduction)

[1.1 Function Type 4](#function-type)

[1.2 Application Area 4](#application-area)

[1.3 Description 4](#description)

[2.0 Requirements Mapping 5](#requirements-mapping)

[3.0 MAIL DIRECTION File 8](#mail-direction-file)

[3.1 File Format 8](#file-format)

[3.2 Transfer 10](#transfer)

[3.3 Batch Jobs 10](#batch-jobs)

[4.0 ZIP CIN File 11](#zip-cin-file)

[5.0 Training Points 12](#training-points)

[6.0 Issues 13](#issues)

[7.0 Assumptions 14](#assumptions)

[Appendix A -- Mail Class 15](#appendix-a-mail-class)

[Appendix B -- Mail Shapes 16](#appendix-b-mail-shapes)

[Approvals 17](#approvals)

# 1.0 Introduction

## 1.1 Function Type

Batch Job

## 1.2 Application Area

DEPS MAIL DIRECTION and ZIP CIN Files

## 1.3 Description

> The MAIL DIRECTION file is being created to replace the existing DROP
> SHIP ZIP CIN file as the source for default drop points and
> redirection information. The new MAIL DIRECTION file will introduce
> Mail Class and Mail Shape instead of CINs to better align with mail
> class/mail shape-based redirections that will be incorporated into the
> Drop Entry Point System. The MAIL DIRECTION file also introduces the
> concept of effective dates and grace periods. Effective dates make it
> possible to create redirections in the future while grace periods
> allow those making drop shipments to adapt to new redirections by
> having a grace or buffer period before diverting their mail. The NASS
> Code will be added per the request of current ZIP CIN File users as
> another facility identifier as well as a last updated date to each
> record in the file.

# 2.0 Requirements Mapping

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Req.   **Version**   **Req. Name**  **Description**                 **Signed
  No.**                                                                 Off?**
  -------- ------------- -------------- ------------------------------- ----------
  1        2.0           Mail           The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                         Class/Mail     format must contain             
                         Shape -        redirections that are reflected 
                         Redirections   by Mail Class and Mail Shape.   
                                        Redirections will no longer be  
                                        indicated by CIN (Content       
                                        Identification Number).         

  2        2.0           Mail           The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                         Class/Mail     indicates a default drop point  
                         Shape --       with a Mail Class and Mail      
                         Default Drop   Shape that is set to 'DEFLT'.   
                         Points                                         

  3        2.0           Effective      The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                         Start Date     format must indicate when a     
                                        redirection (determined by      
                                        DEPS) or default drop point     
                                        starts (determined by **ZIP     
                                        CRID**).                        

  4        2.0           Effective End  The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                         Date --        format must indicate when a     
                         Redirections   redirection ends.               

  5        2.0           Effective End  The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                         Date --        will never contain default drop 
                         Default Drop   records that are not effective. 
                         Points         The default drop point's end    
                                        date will always be set to a    
                                        high date (e.g. 12/31/2999). A  
                                        default drop point is           
                                        determined to be effective or   
                                        ineffective based on whether    
                                        the Default Facility Dropship   
                                        Key, ZIP Code, Carrier Route    
                                        (CRID) and Discount Type are    
                                        present in the **ZIP CRID**     
                                        file (if the record is present, 
                                        the default drop point is       
                                        considered effective or active) 

  6        2.0           Actual End     The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                         Date --        format must indicate when mail  
                         Redirections   can no longer be dropped at a   
                                        particular redirection. This    
                                        date is calculated by adding    
                                        the "grace period" to the       
                                        effective end date of the       
                                        redirection.                    

  7        2.0           Actual End     The **MAIL DIRECTION** file end No
                         Date --        date will always be NULL for    
                         Default Drop   default drop points since       
                         Points         "grace periods" are for         
                                        redirections only and not       
                                        default drop end points.        

  8        2.0           Default Drop   The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                         End Date -     format must indicate the last   
                         Redirections   date a redirection can be       
                                        dropped at the default drop     
                                        point for a particular ZIP      
                                        Code, Carrier Route (CRID),     
                                        Discount Type and Pallet Code.  

  9        2.0           Default Drop   The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                         End Date --    will always show a NULL value   
                         Default Drop   for the default drop end point  
                         Points         since it is a concept that is   
                                        only applicable to redirections 
                                        not default drop point records. 

  10       2.0           NASS Code      The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                                        format must include the         
                                        facility NASS Code when         
                                        available in the FAST facility  
                                        database. This value may be     
                                        NULL.                           

  11       2.0           Overlapping    The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                         Redirections   format may never have           
                                        redirections that have          
                                        overlapping effective dates for 
                                        a particular ZIP, Carrier Route 
                                        (CRID), Discount Type, Pallet   
                                        Code, Mail Class and Mail Shape 
                                        combination.                    

  12       2.0           Multiple       The **MAIL DIRECTION** file may No
                         Redirections   show that mail can be dropped   
                                        at up to three locations at one 
                                        time; two redirections and one  
                                        default drop point.             

  13       2.0           Managing       The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                         Redirections   source for redirections is the  
                                        DEPS (Drop Point Entry System)  
                                        online application.             

  14       2.0           Automatic      Redirections in the **MAIL      No
                         Deactivation   DIRECTION** file will be        
                         of             automatically deactivated and   
                         Redirections   not present in the file if the  
                                        default drop point for that     
                                        redirection is removed from the 
                                        **ZIP CRID** file (based on a   
                                        corresponding ZIP, CRID and     
                                        Discount).                      

  14       2.0           Fixed-Length   The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                                        format must be a fixed-length   
                                        file format to stay consistent  
                                        with other DROP SHIP PRODUCT    
                                        file formats.                   

  15       2.0           Future         The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                         Redirections   format must display future      
                                        redirections when they exist in 
                                        the DEPS application.           

  16       2.0           Default        Default Facility information    No
                         Facility       for both the **MAIL DIRECTION** 
                         Source         and **ZIP CIN** files come from 
                                        the **ZIP CRID** file.          

  17       2.0           Default        Default Facility Pallet Code    No
                         Facility       indicators for both the **MAIL  
                         Pallet Code    DIRECTION** and **ZIP CIN**     
                                        files come from the Pallet      
                                        Accepted Indicator delivered    
                                        from FDB as part of the FAST    
                                        facility data extract.          

  18       2.0           Default        Default Facilities (for a       No
                         Facility       particular ZIP, CRID and        
                         Records        Discount) will only be included 
                                        in both the **MAIL DIRECTION**  
                                        and **ZIP CIN** files if the    
                                        Default Facility Dropship Key,  
                                        ZIP, Carrier Route (CRID) and   
                                        Discount Type combination is    
                                        found in the **ZIP CRID** file. 

  19       2.0           Redirection    Redirection records that have   No
                         Expirations    an Actual End Date prior to the 
                                        time both the **MAIL            
                                        DIRECTION** and **ZIP CIN**     
                                        files are created will not be   
                                        present in either of those      
                                        files.                          

  20       2.0           File Transfer  The **MAIL DIRECTION** and      No
                                        **ZIP CIN** files will be       
                                        transported to PostalONE! and   
                                        AMS on a daily basis.           

  21       2.0           File Archiving The **MAIL DIRECTION** and      No
                                        **ZIP CIN** files will be       
                                        archived.                       

  22       2.0           File           The **MAIL DIRECTION, CIN       No
                         Availability   List** and **ZIP CIN** files    
                                        will be available for download  
                                        on the FAST Resources Page.     

  23       2.0           Creation       The **MAIL DIRECTION** and      No
                         Frequency      **ZIP CIN** (for the duration   
                                        it is supported) files will be  
                                        generated on a daily basis.     

  24       2.0           Supporting Old The **ZIP CIN** file will be    No
                         File Formats   supported for an undetermined   
                                        amount of time with the intent  
                                        that it will be retired.        

  25       2.0           Facility Data  Only facilities in the FAST     No
                         Source         facility database from the FDB  
                                        Extract will appear in the      
                                        **MAIL DIRECTION** and **ZIP    
                                        CIN** files                     

  26       2.0           ZIP CIN Format The **ZIP CIN** file format     No
                                        will remain the same as the     
                                        **ZIP CIN** file that was part  
                                        of the **DROP SHIP PRODUCT**    

  27       2.0           Copyright      The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                         Record         will contain a Copyright        
                                        Record.                         

  28       2.0           Last update    The **MAIL DIRECTION** file     No
                         date           will contain the last update    
                                        date of each record             
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# 3.0 MAIL DIRECTION File

## 3.1 File Format

**[DESCRIPTION]{.underline}**

> The MAIL DIRECTION file format is based primarily on the ZIP CIN file
> from the DROP SHIP PRODUCT. The files both include a Copyright Record
> (file information) and Detail Records (default drop points and
> redirections); a ZIP; Carrier Route (CRID); Pallet Indicator, whether
> the facility accepts palletized, non-palletized or both palletized and
> non-palletized mail (for default drop entry points); whether the
> redirection is for palletized or non-palletized mail (redirections)
> Discount Type, the discount type accepted; and both files are
> fixed-length.
>
> The MAIL DIRECTION file format does NOT include CINs because CINs are
> replaced with mail class/mail shape-based redirections in DEPS and
> thus Mail Class and Mail Shape fields replace the CIN field.
> Additionally, to allow for multiple redirections and grace periods,
> the EFFECTIVE START DATE, EFFECITVE END DATE, ACTUAL END DATE and
> DEFAULT DROP END DATE were added. The NASS Code was requested as an
> additional facility identifier as well as the last updated date for
> each record.

**[MAIL DIRECTION]{.underline}** -- COPYRIGHT RECORD

  ----------- ------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ --------------
  **FIELD     **FIELD DESCRIPTION**    **LOGICAL   **RELATIVE   **RELATIVE   **CONTENT
  REFERENCE                            LENGTH**    POSITION     POSITION     NOTES**
  NUMBER**                                         FROM**       THRU**       

  1           COPYRIGHT DETAIL CODE    1           1            1            C=COPYRIGHT

  2           FILLER                   5           2            6             

  3           COPYRIGHT STATEMENT      12          7            18           COPYRIGHT(C)

  4           FILE VERSION MONTH       2           19           20           01 Through 12

  5           DASH                     1           21           21           \-

  6           FILE VERSION DAY         2           22           23           01 Through 31

  7           DASH                     1           24           24           \-

  8           FILE VERSION YEAR        2           25           26           00 Through 99

  9           COPYRIGHT OWNER          4           27           30           USPS

  10          VOLUME SEQUENCE NUMBER   3           31           33           001

  11          FILLER                   53          34           86           
  ----------- ------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ --------------

**[MAIL DIRECTION]{.underline}** -- DETAIL RECORD

  ----------- ---------------- ----------- ------------ ------------ --------------
  **FIELD     **FIELD          **LOGICAL   **RELATIVE   **RELATIVE   **CONTENT
  REFERENCE   DESCRIPTION**    LENGTH**    POSITION     POSITION     NOTES**
  NUMBER**                                 FROM**       THRU**       

  1           COPYRIGHT DETAIL 1           1            1            D=DETAIL
              CODE                                                   

  2           DROPSHIP ZIPCODE 5           2            6             

  3           CARRIER ROUTE ID 4           7            10            

  4           DROPSHIP KEY     9           11           19            

  5           DISCOUNT TYPE    1           20           20           A = Area
              CODE                                                   Distribution
                                                                     Ctr.

                                                                     S= Sectional
                                                                     Center
                                                                     Facility

                                                                     B= Bulk Mail
                                                                     Center

                                                                     D= Delivery
                                                                     Unit

  6           PALLET CODE      1           21           21           Y = Yes, mail
                                                                     is palletized

                                                                     N = No,
                                                                     mailing is not
                                                                     palletized

                                                                     B = Mailing
                                                                     contains both
                                                                     pallets and
                                                                     other
                                                                     containers

  **7**       **MAIL CLASS**   **10**      **22**       **31**       **e.g. STD**

  **8**       **MAIL SHAPE**   **10**      **32**       **41**       **e.g. LTRS**

  **9**       **EFFECTIVE      **8**       **42**       **49**       **e.g.
              START DATE**                                           01012006**

  **10**      **EFFECTIVE END  **8**       **50**       **57**       **e.g.
              DATE**                                                 12312999**

  **11**      **ACTUAL DROP    **8**       **58**       **65**       **e.g.
              END DATE**                                             12312999**

  **12**      **DEFAULT DROP   **8**       **66**       **73**       **e.g.
              END DATE**                                             03162006**

  **13**      **NASS CODE**    **5**       **74**       **78**       **e.g. 12345**

  **14**      **LAST UPDATE    **8**       **79**       **86**       **e.g.
              DATE**                                                 03022006**
  ----------- ---------------- ----------- ------------ ------------ --------------

**[Removed Fields]{.underline}**

> CIN CODE

New Fields

  ------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
  **Field Name**      **Description**

  MAIL CLASS          The Mail Class of the mail redirection. The Mail
                      Class field will also be used to denote if a
                      Package Services subclass is being redirected, such
                      as Package Services -- Parcel Select. Also, the
                      characters "--P" (without the quotes) will be used
                      in this field to indicate "Perishable" content.
                      Default Drop Entry Points will always have a Mail
                      Class of 'DEFLT'

  MAIL SHAPE          The Mail Shape of the mail redirection. Default
                      Drop Points will always have a Mail Shape of
                      'DEFLT'

  EFFECTIVE START     The date a redirection or default drop entry point
  DATE                becomes active.

  EFFECTIVE END DATE  The date a redirection is ended. Default drop
                      points will always be open ended or "high date"
                      (i.e., 12/31/2999) since end dates cannot be
                      projected at this time. Default drop entry points
                      with an effective end date in the past will not be
                      included in this file format (since the default
                      drop entry point would no longer be valid).

  ACTUAL DROP END     The date a facility stops taking mail for a
  DATE                redirection. This date is determined by the
                      EFFECTIVE END DATE plus a "grace period" of 75 days
                      unless otherwise modified by the DEPS
                      Administrator. This field is always NULL for
                      default drop point records since grace periods do
                      not apply to default drop entry points.

  DEFAULT DROP END    The date the Default facility stops taking mail and
  DATE                when a mail redirection must be adhered to. This
                      date is the redirection EFFECTIVE START DATE plus a
                      "grace period" of 75 days unless otherwise modified
                      by the DEPS Administrator. This field in only set
                      when a redirection was created from a default
                      facility. This field is always NULL for default
                      drop point records.

  NASS CODE           A unique identifier for a facility.

  LAST UPDATE DATE    The last update date for the record
  ------------------- ---------------------------------------------------

## 3.2 Transfer

> The MAIL DIRECTION file will be transported to PostalONE! and AMS on a
> daily basis. The details for this transfer can be found in the
> FAST-POSTALONE! and FAST-AMS ICDs (Interface Control Document). Both
> the MAIL DIRECTION and ZIP CIN files will be available for download on
> the FAST Resources page Pre-Login (publicly available).

## 3.3 Batch Jobs

> The Meta Extract Batch job will be responsible for creating both the
> ZIP CIN and MAIL DIRECTION files. The archiving and transport
> mechanism is handled by the AFT Upload Batch.

# 4.0 ZIP CIN File

DROP SHIP ZIP CIN CRID PRODUCT -- COPYRIGHT RECORD

  ----------- ------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ -------------
  **FIELD     **FIELD DESCRIPTION**    **LOGICAL   **RELATIVE   **RELATIVE   **CONTENT
  REFERENCE                            LENGTH**    POSITION     POSITION     NOTES**
  NUMBER**                                         FROM**       THRU**       

  1           COPYRIGHT DETAIL CODE    1           1            1            C=COPYRIGHT

  2           FILLER                   5           2            6             

  3           COPYRIGHT STATEMENT      12          7            18           COPYRIGHT?

  4           FILLER                   1           19           19            

  5           FILE VERSION MONTH       2           20           21           01 Through 12

  6           DASH                     1           22           22           \-

  7           FILE VERSION YEAR        2           23           24           00 Through 99

  8           FILLER                   1           25           25           

  9           COPYRIGHT OWNER          4           26           29           USPS

  10          FILLER                   1           30           30            

  11          VOLUME SEQUENCE NUMBER   3           31           33           01 Through
                                                                             255
  ----------- ------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ -------------

DROP SHIP ZIP CIN CRID PRODUCT -- DETAIL RECORD

  ----------- ---------------- ----------- ------------ ------------ --------------
  **FIELD     **FIELD          **LOGICAL   **RELATIVE   **RELATIVE   **CONTENT
  REFERENCE   DESCRIPTION**    LENGTH**    POSITION     POSITION     NOTES**
  NUMBER**                                 FROM**       THRU**       

  1           COPYRIGHT DETAIL 1           1            1            D=DETAIL
              CODE                                                   

  2           DROPSHIP ZIPCODE 5           2            6             

  3           CARRIER ROUTE ID 4           7            10            

  4           DROPSHIP KEY     9           11           19            

  5           DISCOUNT TYPE    1           20           20           S=SCF
              CODE                                                   

                                                                     B=BULK MAIL
                                                                     CNTR

                                                                     D=DELIVERY
                                                                     UNIT

  **6**       **CIN CODE**     **3**       **21**       **23**       **CONTENT
                                                                     IDENTICATION
                                                                     \#**

  7           PALLET CODE      1           24           24           Y=YES

                                                                     N=NO

                                                                     B=BOTH

  8           FILLER           9           25           33            
  ----------- ---------------- ----------- ------------ ------------ --------------

# 

# 5.0 Training Points

  ----------------- ------------------------------------------------------------
  **Section or      **Training Point**
  Functionality**   

  File FSupport     The MAIL DIRECTION and ZIP CIN File Formats will both be
                    supported for an undetermined time to allow those using the
                    ZIP CIN file to adapt to the new MAIL DIRECTION file.

  File Formats      More than one redirection may be active (not effective) at
                    one time in both the MAIL DIRECTION and ZIP CIN File due to
                    the 75-Day Grace Period for redirections and DEPS supporting
                    short-term redirections.

  File Formats      The ZIP CIN File will only contain redirect information for
                    redirections active at the time the file is created. This is
                    determined by the redirection effective start and end dates.

  File Formats      The new MAIL DIRECTION file will contain redirect
                    information for redirections active at the time the file is
                    created and for redirections in the future

  File Availability The MAIL DIRECTION and ZIP CIN files will be created and
                    posted on the FAST Resources page on a daily basis.
  ----------------- ------------------------------------------------------------

# 6.0 Issues 

  --------- -------------------------------------------------------------
  **No**    **Issue Description**

  1         Not all facilities in the current ZIP CIN File correspond to
            facilities in FAST received from FDB. Only facilities sent to
            FAST in the FDB Extract will be included in the ZIP CIN and
            MAIL DIRECTION File.
  --------- -------------------------------------------------------------

# 7.0 Assumptions

  --------- -------------------------------------------------------------
  **No**    **Assumption Description**

  1         Multiple redirections can exist and but effective start and
            end dates can never overlap in both the MAIL DIRECTION and
            ZIP CIN Files

  2         CIN and Mail Class/Mail Shape records in the ZIP CIN and MAIL
            DIRECTION Files may only have a Discount Type for which it is
            associated with.
  --------- -------------------------------------------------------------

# Appendix A -- Mail Class

  ---------- -------------------------------------------------------------
  **Code**   **Description**

  DEFLT      Default Drop Point

  NEWS       News

  PER        Periodicals

  PSVC       Package Services

  PSVCPS     Package Services -- Parcel Select

  PSCVBLM    Package Services -- BPM/Library/Media

  STD        Standard
  ---------- -------------------------------------------------------------

**\*\*\* NOTE:** The characters ***--P*** will be appended to the Mail
Class field to indicate a "Perishable" mailing. For example, "Package
Services -- Parcel Select (Perishables)" would have a Mail Class field
***PSVCSPS-P***.

# Appendix B -- Mail Shapes

  ---------- -------------------------------------------------------------
  **Code**   **Description**

  DEFLT      Default Drop Point

  FLATS      Flats

  IRREG      Irregular Parcels

  LTRS       Letters

  MACH       Machinable Parcels

  MCH IR     Machinable Irregular Parcels

  PARCELS    All Parcels
  ---------- -------------------------------------------------------------

# Approvals

Client Approval: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Date: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Accenture Approval:
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Date:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_