CASS

CASS gives software developers, service bureaus and commercial mailers one common test of address-matching software.3CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 1“The CASS software program provides hardware and software manufacturing, service bureaus, and commercial mailers a common measure by which to test the quality of address-matching software.”USPS original The CASS Department, the USPS group that administers CASS, grades each test.4CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 2“The CASS Department also administers and evaluates the CASS certification process.”USPS original The results go back to the developer as diagnostics for fixing the software.3CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 1“Software tests for CASS certification are evaluated by the U.S. Postal Service® Addressing & Geospatial Technology (AGT), and the results are returned to the developer to provide useful diagnostics for correcting software deficiencies.”USPS original CASS does not measure the accuracy of the codes in a mailer's own address file.2PostalPro: CASS™“However, CASS™ processing does not measure the accuracy of ZIP + 4, delivery point, Five-Digit ZIP Code, or carrier route codes in a mailer’s address file.”USPS original

Certification is open to software developers, mailers and service bureaus.2PostalPro: CASS™“CASS™ certification is available to all software developers, mailers, and service bureaus who wish to evaluate the quality of their address matching software.”USPS original A manufacturer's certification works as a blanket certification for every user of its software package.5CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 4“CASS offers an address matching certification process that provides the mailing industry with a method whereby a software manufacturer’s CASS certification can function as a blanket certification for all users of an address matching software package. The requirement that each user of address matching software attain CASS certification is only necessary in certain situations.”USPS original A user needs its own certification only in certain situations, such as after changing the certified product.5CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 4“CASS offers an address matching certification process that provides the mailing industry with a method whereby a software manufacturer’s CASS certification can function as a blanket certification for all users of an address matching software package. The requirement that each user of address matching software attain CASS certification is only necessary in certain situations.”USPS original6CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 5“All user modifications to a CASS Certified™ product must be certified separately by the end user and information about the new drivers or APIs must be listed on the CASS Order Form.”USPS original

Every CASS test includes DPV or DSF2, LACSLink and SuiteLink, and RDI and eLOT are optional.3CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 1“CASS certification includes DPV® or DSF2®, LACSLink®, and SuiteLink®. RDI™ certification is optional so is eLOT® with DPV certification.”USPS original DPV and DSF2 confirm whether USPS delivers to an address.5CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 4“DPV or DSF2 confirms whether an address is deliverable by the USPS and is mandatory for all users.”USPS original MASS, a related USPS certification, is an extension of CASS.2PostalPro: CASS™“The MASS™ certification is an extension of the CASS™ system, which is a process designed in cooperation with the mailing industry to improve the accuracy of postal codes that appear on mail.”USPS original

Certification uses two test files of 150,000 addresses each.7CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 3“The Stage I file contains one copyright header record, three DSF2® header records and 150,000 test address records. … The Stage II file contains one copyright header record for a DPV test and 150,000 test records.”USPS original The Stage I file comes with answers, so a developer can check its own software.7CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 3“Stage I is a file with answers provided by the CASS Department that is used to analyze your software.”USPS original USPS does not review Stage I results, and they have no effect on certification.7CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 3“The results of Stage I processing are not reviewed by the AGT and have no effect on CASS certification.”USPS original The Stage II file is the certification test, and the CASS Department grades it.7CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 3“Stage II is the certification test that is required to achieve CASS certification.”USPS original

Static data is the fixed USPS data that every CASS and MASS test must use.7CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 3“USPS provides static data to all software developers for every product that is used for testing. This data must be used for all CASS and MASS tests.”USPS original USPS bills for a test as certification is achieved, and fees are due within 30 days of the bill.3CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 1“Customers are billed as certification is achieved. Billing procedures are coordinated with our Accounts Receivable Department. All certification test fees are payable within 30 days of the billing date.”USPS original The bill counts the software configurations certified, not the Stage II files ordered.3CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 1“CASS customers are billed based on the number of separate software configurations certified, not the number of Stage II files ordered.”USPS original The fees are in Notice 123, the USPS price list.3CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 1“The fee for all CASS tests is listed in the Price List (Notice 123) in the Address Management Systems (AMS) section.”USPS original

The order form records which kind of certification a test is for.6CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 5“To obtain CASS certification, order a CASS Stage II file using the CASS Order Form, check the appropriate box on page one (1) for the certification type you are seeking.”USPS original

• Manufacturer certification is only for companies that develop address-matching software.6CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 5“Manufacturer certification is available only to companies that develop address matching software.”USPS original
• User-defined certification is for vendors, service bureaus and mailers with special requirements for certified software.12CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 6“Vendors, service bureaus, and mailers who have special requirements for using address matching software in a configuration that has been CASS Certified by a software developer must apply for user defined certification and select the appropriate check boxes on the CASS Order Form.”USPS original
• Integrators, customers who combine certified software with another product or driver, certify the result as separate software under a different name.6CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 5“Customers who wish to integrate certified software with another product or software driver must certify the integrated product as new software with a different name from the original packaged software.”USPS original
• Each platform, a differently compiled operating system, needs its own test and certification.13CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 7“CASS requires that all separate platforms for a single product be individually CASS tested and certified. The term “platform” refers to any differently compiled operating system.”USPS original

A configuration is a three-character code, assigned by the developer, for one set of parameter settings.12CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 6“A configuration is a three alphanumeric character identifier associated with a software name and version number that represents a specific set of parameter settings. The configuration is assigned by the software developer.”USPS original One software version can be certified for several configurations and platforms.12CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 6“The same software version number may be certified for multiple specific configurations and platforms (operating systems).”USPS original

The Merge test checks how software corrects and standardizes addresses, from 5-digit coding to SuiteLink.5CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 4“Evaluates address matching software performance as it pertains to correcting and standardizing addresses for 5-digit, carrier route, ZIP + 4®, DPV®, LACSLink®, and SuiteLink®.”USPS original The Merge/eLOT test adds eLOT, which lets mailers sort mail in approximate carrier-casing sequence.5CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 4“Evaluates address matching software performance as it pertains to correcting and standardizing addresses for 5-digit, carrier route, ZIP + 4®, DPV® or DSF2®, LACSLink®, and SuiteLink® and eLOT.”USPS original2PostalPro: CASS™“The eLOT product allows mailers the ability to sort their mailings in approximate carrier-casing sequence.”USPS original RDI can be added to either test as an option.5CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 4“RDI™ can be added as an option for this test type.”USPS original Utility tests certify one product each, and they don't expire until the product data changes.5CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 4“These tests allow certification for these specific products. The certifications do not expire until changes are made to the product data.”USPS original

One wrong answer field makes the whole address record wrong, and it counts as a single error.14CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 39“If a single answer field or portion of an answer field for fields that require parsing is incorrect, the entire address is considered incorrect and counts as a single error.”USPS original Software must attempt every mandatory category.15CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 31“Software must attempt to match against every mandatory category.”USPS original A wrong answer in an optional category counts against the score, and a right one counts toward it.15CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 31“If software attempts to code optional categories and the answers are incorrect, the incorrect match will be counted as an error against the total of the final scoring. Likewise, if software attempts these questions and gets them right it will count toward the total correct score.”USPS original

Each category has its own minimum score.16CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 40“Minimum accuracy percentages required to achieve a passing score for CASS product categories include the following:”USPS original

PS Form 3553, the CASS Summary Report, is the form CASS-certified software produces when it codes an address list.17CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle OPDF page 75“This form may be generated as the output of address matching processing using CASS Certified™ software in conjunction with current USPS® address database files.”USPS original12CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 6“The address matching software being certified must be capable of generating a facsimile of the CASS Summary Report (PS Form 3553) located in Appendix 1.”USPS original The mailer signs it to certify that the mailing was coded with CASS-certified software meeting DMM section 602.17CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle OPDF page 75“I certify that the mailing submitted with this form has been coded (as indicated above) using CASS Certified software meeting all of the requirements listed in the DMM Section 602.”USPS original Any facsimile must carry the same information in the same format as the printed form.17CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle OPDF page 75“Any facsimile must contain the same information in the same format as the printed form.”USPS original

1. Software: the name and version of each certified software, as its certificate shows.18CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle OPDF page 76“Enter name and version for each kind of software as it appears on the CASS/MASS certificate.”USPS original
2. List: the company that coded the list, and the date it did.18CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle OPDF page 76“Enter the company name that coded the address list(s) and/or performed ZIP + 4®/DPV® confirmation using CASS Certified™software. … Enter the processing date for each list.”USPS original
3. Output: how many records were coded, within a valid USPS product cycle.18CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle OPDF page 76“Enter the total number coded. … Coding must be done using a product release that is within the USPS Product Cycle, as provided in the table below:”USPS original
4. Mailer: the signature of the person who processed the list or represents the mailer.18CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle OPDF page 76“Signature of individual who processed the list, or the mailer’s representative.”USPS original
5. Qualitative Statistical Summary: counts that help the list processor judge the list's quality.18CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle OPDF page 76“This information allows mailers and list processors to evaluate the quality of their address list processed through CASS software before its contents enter the mailstream.”USPS original

USPS staff never use the Qualitative Statistical Summary to decide rate eligibility.17CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle OPDF page 75“This information is not to be considered by the U.S. Postal Service® personnel in determining rate eligibility under any circumstances.”USPS original A default match is a match made when an address has a missing or invalid suite or box number.18CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle OPDF page 76“Defaults are matches made to addresses that contain invalid/missing secondary address or box information.”USPS original Default matches still qualify for automation prices, but many of them raise delivery costs.18CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle OPDF page 76“Although these addresses remain eligible for postal automation rate discounts, significant number of Highrise default/rural route default matches increases the costs and reduces the efficient delivery of this mail.”USPS original

CASS certification is valid until the end of the current certification period.2PostalPro: CASS™“CASS™ certification is valid until the end of the current certification period.”USPS original To stay certified, a developer reapplies each period and passes Stage II again.2PostalPro: CASS™“To remain CASS™ certified for each required certification period, developers must reapply for certification and meet the minimum accuracy requirements during Stage II testing.”USPS original Each cycle, the software must change its cycle field to the cycle's name.13CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 7“For each required testing cycle software must increment the cycle field to the new cycle name.”USPS original

A developer must report every change to a certified product, whatever its purpose.13CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 7“However, all changes must be reported regardless of their purposes.”USPS original The CASS Department says within five business days whether the change needs recertification.13CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 7“The CASS Department will review the proposed change and notify the developer whether they must submit for recertification within five (5) business days.”USPS original A fix for one specific problem, or a customer interface, generally doesn't need it.13CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 7“Changes made to fix a specific problem like a program ABEND, or to provide a customer a specific interface generally will not require recertification.”USPS original Any release that changes the matching logic gets a new version number and needs certification.19CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 71“Any new release of address matching software must include a new version number. All new releases require CASS Certification”USPS original

A CASS version number has four fields.19CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 71“06.03 A Version Number .05 B Revision Number .O C CASS Cycle .08.07 D Manufacturer Number”USPS original

Cycle O changed CASS and MASS address matching to promote address quality and reduce undeliverable-as-addressed mail.20CASS™ Cycle O - Executive SummaryPDF page 1“The following changes to CASS and MASS address matching are fueled by the need to: Promote Address Quality Reduce Undeliverable As Addressed (UAA) mail”USPS original

• PO Box Only Delivery Zones mark cities where USPS delivers only to PO Boxes.20CASS™ Cycle O - Executive SummaryPDF page 1“Identify Cities that have only PO Boxes and no other form of mail delivery available.”USPS original
• Software counts a 5-digit ZIP Code on PS Form 3553 only when the output city, state and ZIP Code correspond.21CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 32“If the output city, state and ZIP Code correspond, the 5-digit ZIP Code can be counted on the PS Form 3553.”USPS original
• Addresses on the phantom routes R777 and R779 get only a 5-digit ZIP Code, with no ZIP + 4 or DPV confirmation.22CASS™ Cycle O - Executive SummaryPDF page 3“Identify physical addresses that are assigned to a phantom route of R777 or R779 are not eligible for USPS mail delivery. These addresses will return only a 5-Digit ZIP Code and will not be assigned a ZIP + 4® or DPV® confirmation.”USPS original
• PO Box Street Addresses get their own identifier and are no longer marked as commercial mail receiving agencies.22CASS™ Cycle O - Executive SummaryPDF page 3“Identifies and standardizes PO Box Street Addresses. PBSA records will no longer be identified as a “CMRA”.”USPS original
• Software tries a primary number with a single trailing letter, such as 341A, then tries it without the letter.22CASS™ Cycle O - Executive SummaryPDF page 3“For example, “341A JAMES AVE”. CASS Software will attempt to validate the primary number with the “A”. If it does not validate, they will then attempt to validate with “341” alone.”USPS original
• Software validates two more military address formats.23CASS™ Cycle O - Executive SummaryPDF page 4“The military has requested two additional address formats in addition to the current CMR, PSC, and Unit addresses with box information. CASS Cycle O will be able to validate these new addresses.”USPS original
• TotalDPS changes how the 11-digit delivery point ZIP Code is assigned to some address types, to reduce duplicates.23CASS™ Cycle O - Executive SummaryPDF page 4“TotalDPS will revise the way the 11-Digit DPV® ZIP Code™ is assigned to certain address types and will reduce duplication.”USPS original

A test fails when any one category misses its minimum score.16CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 40“If a passing score is not achieved in any single category the entire test fails.”USPS original It also fails when software skips a mandatory category or leaves it unanswered.15CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 31“If a mandatory category is bypassed or not answered, the test is also considered as a failed test.”USPS original A test run without the static data fails.12CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 6“Failure to use static data will result in test failure.”USPS original

Without a header record, the Stage II file is not evaluated at all.21CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 32“If no header record is present, the evaluation process will not occur.”USPS original The grading system ignores an answer file with the wrong filename, or one returned with other files.9CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 62“The grading system will not recognize the file if the filename is not correct or if more than one file is returned with the answer file.”USPS original Errors in the PS Form 3553 don't stop grading, but no certification issues until a valid form arrives.21CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 32“If any errors are identified in the comparison, the grading process will continue. However, certification cannot be issued until a valid PS Form 3553 is submitted to the CASS Department via email attachment to cassman.ncsc@usps.gov.”USPS original

A failed test gets an email that gives the reason.10CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 63“If the file does not meet the certification requirement, an email will be sent with information pertaining to the reason for failure.”USPS original It also gets a grading analysis report.11CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 41“A grading output analysis report is provided when the required minimum score is not achieved.”USPS original That report includes the Customer No Match Report, which details each address record scored as incorrect.11CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 41“Contains detailed information about the customer address records that have been graded and scored as incorrect.”USPS original The CASS Department sometimes allows a retest of the same file when the errors are not extreme.10CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 63“Sometimes we will allow a retest of the same file if the errors are not extreme.”USPS original

USPS revokes certification of user-modified software that the end user has not certified.6CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 5“The USPS has a policy of revoking certification of any user-modified address matching software that has not been CASS Certified by the end user.”USPS original A developer that fails to report a modification risks decertification of the product.13CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 7“Failure of notification may result in decertification of the modified product and rescinding of any postage discounts obtained while using the modified product.”USPS original USPS can then rescind the postage discounts mailers got with the modified product, even retroactively.13CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 7“Failure of notification may result in decertification of the modified product and rescinding of any postage discounts obtained while using the modified product. … Postage discounts may be rescinded retroactively.”USPS original

Software that doesn't return the LACSLink converted address can return only the 5-digit ZIP Code.14CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 39“If a mailer does not return the new address from LACSLink only the 5-digit ZIP Code™ can be returned.”USPS original That address does not qualify for automation discounts.14CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 39“This address does not qualify for automation discounts.”USPS original

• The CASS Department answers questions at 800-642-2914 or cassman.ncsc@usps.gov.3CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 1“If more information is needed, contact the CASS Department at 800-642-2914 or via email at cassman.ncsc@usps.gov.”USPS original
• It takes order forms by email or by fax at 650-577-2509, but not by phone.8CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 60“The completed order form and terms and conditions document can be sent as an email attachment to cassman.ncsc@usps.gov or fax to 650-577-2509. … Orders cannot be taken over the phone.”USPS original
• Customer Care at AGT, the USPS Addressing and Geospatial Technology office, provides the Address Information System products at aisproducts.ncsc@usps.gov.4CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 2“The AIS Products are available through Customer Care at AGT. Customer Care is available at 800238-3150 option 0 or via email at aisproducts.ncsc@usps.gov.”USPS original2PostalPro: CASS™“Software tests for CASS™ certification are graded by the U.S. Postal Service®, Addressing and Geospatial Technology (AGT) office and the results are returned to the developer to provide useful diagnostics for correcting software deficiencies.”USPS original
• The Licensing Department at AGT provides the licensed products, at 800-589-5766 or ncoalink@usps.gov.4CASS™ Technical Guide for Cycle Opage 2“These products are available through the Licensing Department at AGT. The Licensing Department is available at 800-589-5766 or via email at ncoalink@usps.gov.”USPS original