General Information
What is Open and Distribute Service?
Open and Distribute Service provides an easy alternative to mailer drop shipments for customers who want to expedite their mailings of certain mail classes to domestic destination postal facilities. The shipment receives Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail service between the acceptance BMEU or Associate Post Office® location with acceptance function and the destination facility. The enclosed mail is processed and provided the appropriate service from the mail processing facility to the destination delivery unit.
Are any forms required for Open and Distribute Service?
Yes. A PS Form 3152-E is required for Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute® (EMOD) containers and a PS Form 3152 is required for Priority Mail Open and Distribute® (PMOD) containers. A postage statement is necessary for postage payment for both the Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail Open and Distribute containers.
Barcodes, Container Tags, and Labels
Is a barcode required for the container tag or label?
Yes. An Open and Distribute barcode must be used on every container. The service barcode label must be placed either on the tag, the tray box, the Flat Rate box or envelope or the pallet. When the service barcode is scanned, it will provide the customer with date, ZIP Code™, the time that the container was accepted at the BMEU or Associate Post Office® location with acceptance function and the time that the container was received at the destination facility.
Types of Tags or Labels
- PRIORITY MAIL EXPRESS OPEN AND DISTRIBUTE®
- Blue Tag 257 (or Blue Tag 257-EVS) is used on Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute sacks or tray boxes going to Destination Delivery Units (DDUs) and contains an address label with a service barcode.
- Blue Label 257S (or Blue Label 257S-EVS) is used on Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute flat rate envelopes going to Destination Delivery Units (DDUs). An address label with a service barcode is affixed to the flat rate envelope.
- Yellow Tag 267 (o Yellow Tag 267-EVS) is used on Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute sacks or tray boxes going to all mail processing facilities and contains an address label with a service barcode.
- PRIORITY MAIL OPEN AND DISTRIBUTE®
- Pink Tag 190 (or Pink Tag 190-EVS) is used on Priority Mail Open and Distribute sacks, pallets, or tray boxes going to Destination Delivery Units and contains an address label with a service barcode.
- Pink Label 190S (or Pink Label 190S-EVS) is used on Priority Mail Open and Distribute flat rate envelopes and boxes going to Destination Delivery Units. An address label with a service barcode is affixed to the flat rate envelope of box.
- Green Tag 161 (or Green Tag 161-EVS) is used on Priority Mail Open and Distribute sacks, pallets, or tray boxes going to all Destination Mail Processing Facilities and contains an address label with a service barcode.
- Note: The eVS / USPS® Ship version of the tags and labels will not require a postmark or signature during the acceptance and verification process. Instead, the eVS tags / USPS® Ship and labels will bear the marking "APPROVED eVS MAILER" in the space normally designated for postmark and signature.
How can customers order the tags, labels and tray boxes?
Tags, labels and tray boxes can be ordered by contacting the Expedited Package Supply Center at 1-800-610-8734.
Postage and Payments
How is postage calculated for Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute® or Priority Mail Open and Distribute®?
- Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute Postage is based on the zone and weight of the contents of the Open and Distribute shipment, excluding the external container's tare weight.
- Except as provided above, Priority Mail Open and Distribute is based on the weight of the contents of the Open and Distribute shipment, excluding the container's tare weight.
- The minimum weight required for Priority Mail Open and Distribute sacks is 5 pounds, except for Open and Distribute sacks that contain qualified trays (trays prepared under the standards for the applicable class of mail).
- Note:
- The maximum weight for each container is 70 pounds.
- If applicable to the class of mail, zone pricing is based on the zone of the accepting Post Office® location to the zone of the container's destination facility, not the enclosed letter's destination Post Office® location.
How is postage paid for the mailing?
Postage on the enclosed mail may be paid with any method permitted for the mail class except for ordinary postage stamps requiring cancellation. Mail requiring cancellation may not be enclosed. Evidence of payment for the Open and Distribute container must be affixed to each individual tag, label, or the Open and Distribute tray box, with a permit imprint through a manifest mailing system or via meter postage. The mailing must be accepted at the BMEU or an acceptance location designated by Postmaster. Postage cannot be purchased at the Post Office® location.
Mail Classes, Guarantees, and Extra Services
Is the mail enclosed in the container required to meet corresponding eligibility standards?
Yes. Mail enclosed in the container is required to meet all corresponding eligibility and preparation standards for the mail class for which postage has been paid. These standards do not extend to hazardous materials: mail enclosed in a Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail Open-and-Distribute container may not contain hazardous materials.
Does Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute® have a service guarantee?
Yes. Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute has a service guarantee by end of day of the scheduled delivery day.
Can extra services be added to the Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute® or the Priority Mail Open and Distribute® shipment?
No. There are no authorized extra services for the Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail Open and Distribute container.
How does a mailer determine where the shipment will be processed?
Mailers are directed to the Facility Access and Shipment Tracking System (FAST) at https://fast.usps.com/fast. For facility address information, click on "Reports", "Mail Direction Search", "Drop Entry Point View."
Mailing and Delivery
Where Can Open and Distribute Shipments be Presented?
Mailers are required to present Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute® or Priority Mail Open and Distribute® shipments at a Business Mail Entry Unit or acceptance location designated by Postmaster.
What are the approved destination facilities that Open and Distribute can be mailed to?
Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute can be mailed to a Destination Delivery Unit (DDU), Sectional Center Facility (SCF), Area Distribution Center (ADC), Network Distribution Center (NDC) or, Auxiliary Service Facility (ASF).
