**GAO-08-41**                      Published: Dec 10, 2007. Publicly Released: Dec 10, 2007.                  

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## Highlights

Continued financial challenges and increased competition call for the U.S. Postal Service to manage its 34,000 facilities as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. GAO and others have identified key facility management challenges, including the need to (1) capture and maintain accurate facility data, (2) adequately maintain facilities, and (3) align retail access with customer needs. This report assesses Postal Service efforts to overcome these challenges and implement leading federal practices. To conduct this study, GAO analyzed postal data and documents, visited 58 facilities, and interviewed postal officials.

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## Topics

Government Operations

Cost effectiveness analysisCustomer serviceData collectionData integrityEquipment maintenanceFacility maintenanceFacility managementFederal procurementFinancial managementMaintenance (upkeep)Maintenance costsMaintenance standardsPostal facilitiesPostal servicePostal service contractsPostal service employeesProcurementProcurement planningStandards