PLANET/ACS Pilot
`
`Introduction
`This document provides a brief overview and outlines the preliminary requirements for
`participation in the PLANET/ACS Pilot. This effort will evaluate the feasibility and
`value to both mailers and the USPS of substituting the Address Change Service (ACS)
`participant code and keyline codes with a PLANET barcode.
`
`Background
`Mailers currently use a series of alphanumeric values to represent their participation in
`the USPS' Address Change Service (ACS) program. A mandatory value is the ACS
`Participant Code (#BYBBBBM) that denotes the participating mailer. An optional value
`is the ACS Keyline (#65DOE1232003#) that allows the mailer to print on the mail piece
`the code necessary to linkage the customer shown in the address back to the mailer's
`address files.
`
`•
`
`Mailer's N arne
`
`Mailer's Address
`Mailer's City ST ZIP+4
`
`Address Service Requested
`
`#BYBBBBM
`#65D0312320035#
`JOHN DOE
`123MAIN ST
`ANTOWN ST 98765-4321
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`
`In USPS processing, whenever a mail piece is Undeliverable-As-Addressed (UAA), the
`detection of the ACS code causes the mail piece to be sent to the Computerized
`Forwarding System unit where an operator manually enters the ACS information.
`Depending on the mail class, the ancillary service endorsement, and whether the mail
`piece is UAA due a customer change-of-address (COA) or other reason for non-delivery
`(Nixie), the mail piece is then either forwarded, returned to sender, or disposed. An
`electronic ACS notice is sent to the mailer that provides the moving customer's new
`mailing address or the reason why mail piece could not be delivered to the original
`address.
`
`OneCode Vision
`The USPS organization Intelligent Mail & Address Quality is proposing to mailers that a
`new standard be developed to represent via a barcode the many varied service requests
`that can appear on the face of a mail piece. This new standard, known as the OneCode
`Vision, proposes to replace alphanumeric values and the variety of barcode formats used
`with a single standard barcode that is capable of servicing the differing service needs.
`The first effort at adopting this new standard is the PLANET/ACS program.
`
`Manual processing of ACS information is less than optimal. Manual data entry is costly
`and is subject to human error. The USPS is already undertaking an effort to automate the
`processing of UAA mail pieces in the Postal Automated Redirection System (PARS)
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`program. However, even where technology can be applied to processing of UAA mail
`pieces there still remains problems in the proper identification and interpretation of the
`multiple values that must be factored in every disposition decision. PARS cannot always
`read the ancillary service endorsement, the ACS participant code, the ACS keyline, and
`the mail class determination from each mail piece that is necessary prior to making a
`disposition decision. Consequently, even in a PARS-enabled environment the USPS
`must still expend manual effort on a significant portion of UAA mail to properly process
`the mail piece and provide the mailer-requested services.
`
`Through the PLANET/ACS pilot, the USPS seeks to evaluate whether the use of a
`machine-readable barcode can improve the read rates of ACS mail. The plan is to replace
`alphanumeric values that are currently used to request ACS processing with a barcode
`that conveys the same information. To facilitate quicker testing of this idea without
`making infrastructure changes in USPS mail processing equipment, service programs,
`and delivery and distribution processes, a pilot is proposed that will allow USPS and
`mailers to evaluate the potential of using barcodes with minimum changes in our current
`operating environments.
`
`PLANET/ACS Pilot
`The idea in the PLANET/ACS pilot is to use the current PLANET Code used by
`CONFIRM Program participants as the vehicle for providing ACS-style notices of
`mailpieces that are undeliverable-as-addressed. Since the PLANET Code is already
`widely supported in USPS processing, it allows mailers to leverage their current
`participation in the CONFIRM Program to include obtaining value-added UAA
`notification services without changes to their mail creation systems. Example:
`
`•
`
`I Mailer's Name
`123Main St
`Dulles VA 20000· 0099
`
`Address Service Requested
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`JOHN DOE
`123MAIN ST
`ANTOWN ST 98765-4321
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`
`Mailers participating in the PLANET/ACS pilot will be required to print a return address
`with a USPS-assigned ZIP Code that will be used to direct all returned UAA mail pieces
`to the pilot facility. A centralized processing location will initially be established for
`conducting the pilot. As the pilot proves the feasibility of this concept, additional
`processing centers may be established. Sort plans for individual plants would be
`modified locally to redirect the PLANET/ACS mail to the nearest processing center.
`
`When a mail piece is identified by the postal carrier as being UAA, the carrier will
`provide the routine treatment and submit the mail piece for either forwarding or return-to(cid:173)
`sender processing. Because the mail piece will not bear the ACS markings that would
`normally trigger sending the mail piece to CFS for processing, and because the USPS
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`does not want to implement policy changes for the sole purpose of conducting the pilot, it
`will be necessary that the return address of the PLANET/ ACS processing facility be
`included in the return address. The use of the processing center return address will cause
`all UAA mail that would normally be returned to sender to be sent instead to the
`processing center. For those UAA mail pieces that would normally be forwarded, the
`return address will cause the manual address correction form PS Form 3547 to be
`sent to the processing center from the CFS unit. (Need to revise in light of new
`approach)
`
`Dulles Processing Center
`The PLANET/ACS processing will be initially performed at the Dulles P&DC. This site
`was selected because it has the required PARS equipment that will be used to perform the
`processing. At the Dulles mail processing center, the Combined Input-Output SubSystem
`(ClOSS) equipment will be used to process the UAA returned mail pieces. A process
`will be created for capturing the information contained in the PLANET and POSTNET
`barcodes and outputting this information into an electronic file. Where the PLANET
`Code is unreadable, an electronic image of the mailpiece will be created for transmission
`to the mailer. After compilation of the data the file will be sent via the NCSC to the
`participating mailer for analysis and incorporation into their mailing list administrative
`processes.
`
`In the UAA returned mail there will be included two types of notices, mail pieces that are
`undeliverable due to a customer move and others that are undeliverable for a non-move
`related reason, or nixies. Depending on the UAA reason, forwarding vs. nixie,
`information will be captured from the mail piece to create a pseudo ACS record that will
`be provided to the mailer. Because the nixie mail will not be sorted by any reason code
`or originating office, the PLANET/ACS process will not return individual reasons why a
`specific mail piece was undeliverable. Instead, all nixie mail will be reported as having
`been UAA under one reason code.
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