[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 23 (Monday, February 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7820-7821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01759]
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POSTAL SERVICE
Notice of Intelligent Mail Indicia Performance Criteria
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Notice of final changes.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is updating and consolidating the
submission procedures and performance criteria for Postage Evidencing
Systems (PES).
DATES: Copies of the Intelligent Mail[supreg] Indicia (IMI) Performance
Criteria (PC) will be available effective February 4, 2013. Projected
implementation dates for the new criteria are set forth in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.
ADDRESSES: To receive a copy of the IMI PC, mail or deliver written
requests to: USPS[supreg] Payment Technology/Attn: Marlo Kay Ivey, 475
L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 3660, Washington, DC 20260-4110.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marlo Kay Ivey, Business Programs
Specialist, Payment Technology, U.S. Postal Service, at 202-268-7613.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Current product submission procedures, the Performance Criteria and
Security Architecture for Open Information Based Indicia (IBI) Postage
Evidencing Systems and the Performance Criteria and Security
Architecture for Closed Information Based Indicia (IBI) Postage
Evidencing Systems (collectively known as the PCIBI) are approximately
10 years old, and since their inception have had little or no
substantive updates since being initially provided to the Postage
Evidencing System (PES) industry. The PES environment has changed
substantially with the availability of new PES products designed to
meet new customer needs for access to postage. In addition, changes
within the United States Postal Service[supreg] (USPS[supreg])
infrastructure provide enhanced opportunities for PES providers to
propose new concepts, methods, and processes to create, distribute, and
enable customers to print pre-paid evidence of postage while improving
Postal Service operations efficiency and effectiveness.
On March 30, 2011, the Postal Service published (and requested
comments on) a proposed change that will replace the current PES
product submission procedures and the PCIBI with the proposed IMI PC
document (``IMI PC'' or ``Document''). This Document is comprised of
four volumes to support the United States Postal Service[supreg]
(USPS[supreg]) PES Test and Evaluation Program (the ``Program''). The
intent is for the volumes to fully support each other without being
redundant in content.
Description of Replacement Document
Volume I--PES Requirements. Provides the PES industry and test
laboratories with detailed information, requirements, and the guidance
necessary to develop new PES technology compliant with current
USPS[supreg] requirements.
Volume II--IMI Requirements. Provides the minimum required
information, both human-readable and machine readable, for all postage
evidence produced by a PES. This volume also provides the reporting
requirements for all supporting data systems used by USPS[supreg] to
manage the program.
Volume III--Test and Evaluation Requirements. Provides guidance on
additional test and evaluation procedures that a PES must undergo to
receive USPS[supreg] approval, as well as providing guidance for
testing laboratories certified by National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) to perform Federal Information Processing Standard
(FIPS) 140-X testing and USPS[supreg] approved PES testing entities
(PTE).
Volume IV--PES Test and Evaluation Program Requirements. Provides
the Program and logistical processes required for a new PES to obtain
approval from the USPS[supreg] as well as the requirements for the
evaluation and submission of changes and updates to a previously
approved PES.
[[Page 7821]]
Annexes A through M provide detailed requirements to support the
four volumes described above.
Annex K--Self Service Postage Dispensing (Kiosk) System
Requirements. The Kiosk requirements were created for USPS[supreg]
branded Kiosks only and did not fully consider other unbranded kiosks.
This Annex will be updated and expanded to define requirements for
both. This annex will be recirculated for comment by April 1, 2013.
Implementation Schedule
New IBI product Concepts of Operation (Con-Ops) may be submitted
under the PCIBI if Alpha testing is completed by September 30, 2013.
Effective February 1, 2013, new product submissions must follow the
submission and testing processes in Volumes 3 and 4.
For existing IBI Products--Processes in the IMI remain the same as
in the IBI.
Effective October 1, 2013, new product submissions must adhere to
requirements in Volumes 1 and 2.
Existing IBI Products--These products will continue under PCIBI but
must maintain valid FIPS certification.
With the exception of Annex K, as mentioned previously, all annexes
will become effective with the Volume they support.
Summary of Comments and Responses
Comments regarding the proposed criteria were received by
providers, USPS personnel, and other industry professionals. To review
the comments, a Change Control Board (CCB) was formed with various
Postal stakeholders represented. The merits of each comment were
discussed and reviewed. To receive a copy of the comments and how we
addressed them, mail or deliver written requests to: USPS Payment
Technology/Attn: Marlo Kay Ivey, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 3660,
Washington, DC 20260-4110.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy & Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2013-01759 Filed 2-1-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P