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[Federal Register: August 29, 1995 (Volume 60, Number 167)] 
[Notices]
[Page 44909]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
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POSTAL SERVICE
     
National Business Partners' Program
     
AGENCY: Postal Service.
     
ACTION: Notice of program.
     
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Postal Service has implemented the National Business 
Partners' Program for developing working relationships between its 
Postal Business Centers (PBCs) and local service vendors. This program 
should generate additional business activity in mailing-related 
industries while increasing awareness of postal products and services. 
The Business Partners' Program includes a seminar on postal products 
and services that is required for vendors interested in participating. 
This seminar provides vendors with a better understanding of how the 
PBCs can support their efforts to expand business.
     
EFFECTIVE DATES: October 5 through November 30, 1995; January 2 through 
February 29, 1996.
     
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Your local post office for the 
telephone number of the nearest Postal Business Center; or the Postal 
Service National Customer Support Center, 1-800-238-3150.
     
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service has developed the 
National Business Partners' Program as a means of identifying local 
service vendors that can help potential business mailers learn how to 
benefit from using the mail, lower their postage costs, and prepare 
their mail more efficiently. Relationships with business partners have 
been successfully established at the national and local level. The 
objective of the Postal Service is to develop and maintain these 
relationships in order to increase mail volume and mutual revenues.
    The Business Partners' Program is available through the Postal
Service's network of Postal Business Centers in 100 locations 
nationwide. Prospective partners are third-party vendors that can offer 
business mailers such services as printing, presorting, prebarcoding, 
addressing, and direct mail marketing. Business partners are strong 
influencers of the customer base of the Postal Service and are 
frequently stakeholders in the entire postal distribution and delivery 
process. Postal Business Centers are currently identifying local 
vendors and mailing to them information about the program.
    The program requires vendors to attend a three-part seminar that
covers mailpiece design, basics of postage discount programs, and 
value-added products and services. Participation in the seminar enhances 
a vendor's knowledge of postal products and mailing requirements, while 
developing a working relationship with the local Postal Business 
Centers. Each participant in the program will receive a seminar 
certificate, valid for 1 year. Participation in a Business Partners' 
seminar costs $40 for each attendee. Group rates and on-site rates are 
also available.
    After completing the seminar, participating vendors become eligible
to be listed in a local Business Partners' directory. Customers seeking 
assistance in fulfilling their mailing needs can use the directory as a 
reference to find vendors that specialize in mailing-related services. 
These directories will be distributed at scheduled Ad Mail and other 
customer education seminars. The validation period for a directory 
listing will be 1 calendar year, and vendors will be required to attend 
the three-part seminar every year to maintain a listing in the 
directory.
    The Business Partners' program is one of many services provided by
the Postal Business Centers for local business mailers. Consultants are 
on hand at the Postal Business Centers to help mailers learn how to 
qualify for discounted postage rates and use the postal system more 
efficiently.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 95-21390 Filed 8-28-95; 8:45 am] 
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P