Acceptance Procedures for Bulk Mailings:
Postal Initiatives Show Promise
GGD-82-72: Published: Jun 28, 1982. Publicly Released: Jun 28, 1982.
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GAO conducted a review to determine whether the Postal Service has been accepting bulk mailings which are not prepared as required to qualify for applicable rates.
The Postal Service has been accepting a significant number of improperly prepared bulk rate mailings. Bulk rate mailings are volume mailings which receive a lower postage rate because they are presorted and prepared in a manner which reduces processing costs. Lower rates for bulk mail also reflect the level of service provided to mailers. However, such savings are lost when improperly prepared mailings are accepted, because post offices must rework the mail. Added processing costs resulting from poorly prepared mailings are ultimately reflected in higher bulk rates, which unfairly penalize mailers who properly prepare their bulk mailings. In recent years, bulk rate mail volume has grown faster than mail volume as a whole, largely because of the available discounts. In fiscal year 1981, about 49 percent of the mail was paid for at bulk or presorted rates. For years, the Postal Service has been aware that some mailers are not preparing mail properly. The GAO finding concerning bulk mailings was confirmed by two separate Postal Service studies. A recently issued management instruction provides policies and procedures which should, if properly implemented, preclude the recurrence of permissive practices which allowed poorly prepared mailings to be accepted and increase postal operating costs. The verification program will be explained to all bulk mailers, and they will be given the opportunity to rework their mail or pay the appropriate single piece rate.
Jan 19, 2021
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Federal Rulemaking:
Selected EPA and HHS Regulatory Analyses Met Several Best Practices, but CMS Should Take Steps to Strengthen Its AnalysesGAO-21-151: Published: Dec 17, 2020. Publicly Released: Jan 19, 2021.
Jan 13, 2021
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Department of Energy Contracting:
Improvements Needed to Ensure DOE Assesses Its Full Range of Contracting Fraud RisksGAO-21-44: Published: Jan 13, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 13, 2021.
Dec 16, 2020
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Data Governance:
Agencies Made Progress in Establishing Governance, but Need to Address Key MilestonesGAO-21-152: Published: Dec 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 16, 2020.
Dec 9, 2020
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2020 Census:
The Bureau Concluded Field Work but Uncertainty about Data Quality, Accuracy, and Protection RemainsGAO-21-206R: Published: Dec 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 9, 2020.
Dec 3, 2020
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2020 Census:
Census Bureau Needs to Assess Data Quality Concerns Stemming from Recent Design ChangesGAO-21-142: Published: Dec 3, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 3, 2020. -
2020 Census:
Census Bureau Needs to Ensure Transparency over Data QualityGAO-21-262T: Published: Dec 3, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 3, 2020.
Nov 30, 2020
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Federal Buying Power:
OMB Can Further Advance Category Management Initiative by Focusing on Requirements, Data, and TrainingGAO-21-40: Published: Nov 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 30, 2020.
Nov 24, 2020
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Disaster Response:
Agencies Should Assess Contracting Workforce Needs and Purchase Card Fraud RiskGAO-21-42: Published: Nov 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 24, 2020.
Nov 23, 2020
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Federal Contracting:
Actions Needed to Improve Department of Labor's Enforcement of Service Worker Wage ProtectionsGAO-21-11: Published: Oct 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 23, 2020.
Nov 18, 2020
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Federal Telework:
Key Practices That Can Help Ensure the Success of Telework ProgramsGAO-21-238T: Published: Nov 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 18, 2020.
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