Full-Service Certification

Full-Service Certification recognizes mailers that can show their mail quality.1Full-Service Certification Standardspage 4“The United States Postal Service is offering Full-Service Certification (FSC) to mailers who apply for certification and can demonstrate their mail quality.”USPS original Mailers who prove they regularly meet or exceed USPS quality standards are featured prominently on the USPS website.1Full-Service Certification Standardspage 4“Mailers who prove they regularly meet or exceed the high-quality standards of the USPS will then be featured prominently on the USPS website.”USPS original

Standard Full-Service Certification rests on the mailer's scores in the Mailer Scorecard, a USPS mail quality tool.4Full-Service Certification Standardspage 5“If the established quality thresholds in the Mailer Scorecard have been met, your company will be listed as a Full-Service Standard Certified mailer and you will be notified via email of your status.”USPS original Platinum Full-Service Certification adds total quality management standards to the same thresholds.5PostalPro: Platinum Full-Service Certification“For mail service providers (MSPs) who achieve established full-service quality thresholds and meet total quality management standards.”USPS original USPS reviews certified mailers of both levels quarterly, and no less than annually.1Full-Service Certification Standardspage 4“Certified mailers will be reviewed by the USPS to determine continued eligibility quarterly, but no less than annually.”USPS original

PostalPro offers the certification to mail service providers, businesses that prepare and present Full-Service presort mailings.6PostalPro: Standard Full-Service Certification for Mailers“The United States Postal Service is offering Full-Service Certification (FSC) to mail service providers (MSPs) who apply for certification and can demonstrate their mail quality. … A Mail Service Provider (MSP) offers a variety of solutions to prepare and present Full-Service presort mailings.”USPS original Mailers are certified as Presort Bureaus, List Mailers or Consolidators.7Full-Service Certification Standardspage 13“Mailers will be certified as Presort Bureaus, List Mailers or Consolidators.”USPS original A mailer with several operations may choose which ones to certify.7Full-Service Certification Standardspage 13“Although there is one set of standards applicable to any type of mailing environment, mailers with multiple operations (i.e., presort bureau, letter shop, or parcel consolidation) may choose which operations they want to certify under.”USPS original

Both levels start the same way, from the mailer's own Full-Service mailings and their scores.8Full-Service Certification Standardspage 7“The Platinum mailer must have been submitting Full-Service mailings for at least 90 days and monitoring their mail quality in the Mailer Scorecard.”USPS original Platinum then adds an internal audit and an external audit.8Full-Service Certification Standardspage 7“Perform and pass an internal audit … Pass an external audit”USPS original

Both levels use one set of Full-Service Verification thresholds, shown in the Mailer Scorecard under Mail Quality Reports.4Full-Service Certification Standardspage 5“Thresholds can be reviewed in the Mailer Scorecard on the Business Customer Gateway under Mail Quality Reports.”USPS original USPS may update them after periodic review.4Full-Service Certification Standardspage 5“Thresholds may be updated, based on periodic review by USPS.”USPS original Eligibility is judged against the thresholds in force.4Full-Service Certification Standardspage 5“Eligibility is based on the current thresholds.”USPS original

As of May 2024, the thresholds are these.10Full-Service Certification Standardspage 1“Full-Service Certification Standards May, 2024”USPS original

Beyond these thresholds, the mailer's Customer Registration ID must keep 90% or more of its mail Full-Service eligible.2Full-Service Certification Standardspage 6“In addition to the Full-Service Verification thresholds, the CRID must maintain 90% or higher for Full-Service eligible mail as shown on the Mailer Profile tab of the Mailer Scorecard.”USPS original

Standard Full-Service Certification asks a mailer to achieve the Full-Service quality thresholds and then keep them.4Full-Service Certification Standardspage 5“Achieve established full-service quality thresholds … Maintain quality thresholds”USPS original Its third criterion is 90% or more Full-Service eligible volume on the Mailer Profile of the Mailer Scorecard.4Full-Service Certification Standardspage 5“Maintain 90% or higher FS eligible volume on the Mailer Profile of the Mailer Scorecard”USPS original

USPS posts a list of mailers holding Standard certification on PostalPro.2Full-Service Certification Standardspage 6“A list of mailers holding Standard Full-Service Certification will be posted on the USPS PostalPro website.”USPS original It updates the list as needed to add mailers that earn certification.2Full-Service Certification Standardspage 6“This list will be updated as needed to incorporate new mailers obtaining certification.”USPS original

A mailer stays certified as long as quarterly reviews of its Mailer Scorecard show the thresholds held and Full-Service volume at 90% or more.2Full-Service Certification Standardspage 6“Mailers will remain certified as long as quarterly reviews of the authorized CRID Mailer Scorecard validates thresholds have been maintained and Full-Service volume meets or exceeds 90%.”USPS original

Platinum Full-Service Certification is for mail service providers that show an exceptional degree of mail quality and complete the application process.5PostalPro: Platinum Full-Service Certification“The Platinum Full-Service Certification (FSC) is available to mail service providers (MSPs) who can demonstrate an exceptional degree of mail quality and fulfill the application process.”USPS original Its criteria are these:

• Achieve the established Full-Service quality thresholds.8Full-Service Certification Standardspage 7“Achieve established full-service quality thresholds”USPS original
• Create and maintain quality processes that meet total quality management standards.8Full-Service Certification Standardspage 7“Create and maintain quality processes that meet total quality management standards”USPS original
• Perform and pass an internal audit.8Full-Service Certification Standardspage 7“Perform and pass an internal audit”USPS original
• Pass an external audit.8Full-Service Certification Standardspage 7“Pass an external audit”USPS original
• Submit the external audit results for USPS review.8Full-Service Certification Standardspage 7“Submit external audit results for USPS review”USPS original
• Maintain the quality thresholds and standards.8Full-Service Certification Standardspage 7“Maintain quality thresholds and standards”USPS original
• Maintain 90% or more Full-Service eligible volume in the Mailer Scorecard.8Full-Service Certification Standardspage 7“Maintain 90% or higher FS eligible volume on the Mailer Profile of the Mailer Scorecard”USPS original

Compliance with the Platinum standards is checked in periodic internal and external audits.11Full-Service Certification Standardspage 10“Compliance with the Standards is evaluated during periodic External and Internal Quality Audits”USPS original Internal Quality Audits are self-audits by the company's owners, managers, quality staff and work teams.11Full-Service Certification Standardspage 10“Internal Quality Audits are self-audits performed by company owners, managers, Quality Assurance personnel, and employee work teams that provide learning opportunities and help mailers identify where their mailing operations can improve.”USPS original External Quality Audits are done by USPS approved auditors, and the mailer pays for them.11Full-Service Certification Standardspage 10“External Quality Audits are audits performed by USPS approved auditor(s), paid for by mailer, and provide an objective determination of how completely mailers are meeting the program requirements.”USPS original Both use the standardized checklist of the Platinum standards.11Full-Service Certification Standardspage 10“Quality Audits are conducted using a standardized checklist included in section 4.”USPS original

The external auditor is a Certified Quality Auditor.8Full-Service Certification Standardspage 7“An independent external auditor must be a Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) recognized by a National Certification Agency.”USPS original The auditor cannot be an employee who manages or runs any part of the quality process at the audited site.8Full-Service Certification Standardspage 7“The CQA cannot be the same employee who manages or is responsible for any portion of the quality process at the site being audited.”USPS original

The executive summary is a cover letter that explains the external audit's results, including the score.12Full-Service Certification Standardspage 8“The executive summary is a cover page letter to the audit scorecard and checklist that explains the results of the external audit including the score.”USPS original

A Platinum mailer's company name and website link appear on the USPS website.12Full-Service Certification Standardspage 8“Once certified as a Full-Service Platinum mailer, your company name and a link to your website will be displayed on the USPS website as long as the CRID continues to meet all Standard Certification criteria as demonstrated during the quarterly reviews.”USPS original USPS also posts the list of Platinum mailers on PostalPro.12Full-Service Certification Standardspage 8“A list of mailers holding Platinum Full-Service Certification will be posted on the PostalPro website.”USPS original The mailer keeps certification through quarterly reviews, internal quality checks and an external audit every three years.13Full-Service Certification Standardspage 9“In addition, the company will perform the required internal quality checks as well as external audits every three (3) years to maintain certification.”USPS original

The Platinum standards describe the minimal set of activities for an effective, repeatable mail preparation process.11Full-Service Certification Standardspage 10“They precisely describe the minimal set of activities that must be accomplished to establish and maintain an effective and repeatable mail preparation process.”USPS original They aim to prevent errors before they occur, not to fix them afterward.11Full-Service Certification Standardspage 10“The requirements are designed to encourage mailers to prevent errors before they occur, rather than just fixing them after they happen.”USPS original

Each standard has an alpha-numeric identifier and a short title, such as QM3, Audit Plan and Procedures.14Full-Service Certification Standardspage 17“Each standard has an alpha-numeric identifier and a short title of the standard.”USPS original15Full-Service Certification Standardspage 20“QM3 Audit Plan and Procedures”USPS original The auditor records the possible points, the points earned and the evidence for each standard.14Full-Service Certification Standardspage 17“There is a space for total possible points and actual points earned for the standard.”USPS original

Any hand sort operation must be part of the quality process, whatever the type of certification.7Full-Service Certification Standardspage 13“Regardless of the type of certification, any hand sort operation must be incorporated into your quality process.”USPS original The Quality Manual must address letters, flats and parcels as the mailer's operations handle them.14Full-Service Certification Standardspage 17“Regardless of the type of certification (List Mailer, Presort Bureau, or Consolidator), your Quality Manual must address letters, flats, and parcels based on your operations.”USPS original

A Quality Manual is the written record of the processes in a Platinum quality program.7Full-Service Certification Standardspage 13“A Quality Manual is required to document the processes used in your program.”USPS original It must hold six documented procedures.7Full-Service Certification Standardspage 13“However, you must have the following six documented procedures in your Quality Manual:”USPS original

Every document in the program must be marked with the standards it applies to.16Full-Service Certification Standardspage 15“All documents used in your quality program must be marked to identify to which standard(s) they apply.”USPS original Records are kept for at least one year unless a standard says otherwise.16Full-Service Certification Standardspage 15“All records are required to be maintained for a minimum of one year, unless otherwise stated (QM2).”USPS original All records that support the program must be on-site on the day of a full audit.19Full-Service Certification Standardspage 19“All records that support your program must be available on-site on the day of a full audit.”USPS original

Internal audits are scheduled at least once every six months.15Full-Service Certification Standardspage 20“Ensures internal audits are scheduled at least once every six months and the schedule is published annually in advance;”USPS original At least two full internal audits take place each year.15Full-Service Certification Standardspage 20“Ensures at least two full internal audits are conducted annually.”USPS original An external audit does not count as one of those two.15Full-Service Certification Standardspage 20“External audits cannot be counted as one of the two full internal audits.”USPS original

Election Mail certification adds requirements for outbound and return Election Mail to those of Standard or Platinum certification.20Full-Service Certification Standardspage 55“The requirements outlined below must be met for outbound and return mailings to qualify for Election Mail certification in addition to the current requirements for Full-Service Standard or Platinum Certification.”USPS original Its requirements are these:

• A Mailpiece Design Analyst approves every Election Mail design.20Full-Service Certification Standardspage 55“All election mail designs must comply with requirements included in this document and be approved by a Mailpiece Design Analyst (MDA)”USPS original
• Reply envelopes carry Intelligent Mail barcodes, including Business Reply Mail and courtesy reply mail.20Full-Service Certification Standardspage 55“Reply envelopes must contain IMBs for all of the following: Business Reply Mail (BRM), QBRM Qualified BRM, IMbA and Courtesy reply mail”USPS original
• Mailings go in as Full-Service, through vendor approved software, with electronic documentation.20Full-Service Certification Standardspage 55“All mailings must be submitted as Full-Service using vendor approved software* with electronic documentation (eDoc)”USPS original
• The electronic documentation flags each mailing as election mail.20Full-Service Certification Standardspage 55“Mailings must be appropriately flagged as election mail within the eDoc”USPS original
• Ballot mailings carry a physical Tag 191 on trays and mail transport equipment.20Full-Service Certification Standardspage 55“Mailings of ballots to voters must be properly identified as election mail in eDoc, and physical Tag 191 must be applied to mail transport equipment, letter trays, flat trays, etc. to identify the ballots.”USPS original

Certified Full-Service Software Vendors is the USPS list of vendors that certified their Full-Service software products with USPS.3PostalPro: Certified Full-Service Software Vendors“The software vendors listed below have successfully certified their Full-Service software products with the Postal Service™.”USPS original For each one it gives the vendor, the software package and a telephone number.3PostalPro: Certified Full-Service Software Vendors“The list below shows the name of the vendor and software package and telephone number.”USPS original It also says whether the software is cloud based or on premise, how it submits to USPS, and which mail class it supports.3PostalPro: Certified Full-Service Software Vendors“We identify if the software is Cloud based or On Premise, the method of submission to the Postal Service, and the class of mail the software supports.”USPS original

Mailers that meet the Full-Service criteria can receive these benefits:3PostalPro: Certified Full-Service Software Vendors“By meeting the Full-Service criteria, you can receive:”USPS original

• The best commercial prices and the largest discounts.3PostalPro: Certified Full-Service Software Vendors“The best commercial prices and the largest discounts available”USPS original
• No annual permit fees.3PostalPro: Certified Full-Service Software Vendors“The elimination of annual permit fees”USPS original
• Visibility and tracking of mailings at no cost.3PostalPro: Certified Full-Service Software Vendors“No cost visibility/tracking of your mailings”USPS original
• Mail Anywhere: one permit used at several business mail entry sites.3PostalPro: Certified Full-Service Software Vendors““Mail Anywhere” utilizing a single permit at multiple business mail entry sites”USPS original
• Address correction at no cost.3PostalPro: Certified Full-Service Software Vendors“No cost address correction”USPS original

Certification lasts only as long as quarterly reviews find the thresholds held and Full-Service volume at 90% or more.2Full-Service Certification Standardspage 6“Mailers will remain certified as long as quarterly reviews of the authorized CRID Mailer Scorecard validates thresholds have been maintained and Full-Service volume meets or exceeds 90%.”USPS original A Platinum mailer's website listing lasts only while its Customer Registration ID meets every Standard criterion in those reviews.12Full-Service Certification Standardspage 8“Once certified as a Full-Service Platinum mailer, your company name and a link to your website will be displayed on the USPS website as long as the CRID continues to meet all Standard Certification criteria as demonstrated during the quarterly reviews.”USPS original

Audit findings include passes, nonconformances and concerns.21Full-Service Certification Standardspage 12“In the examples above, there is an example of a pass, nonconformance and concern.”USPS original In one example, a mission statement posted but not reviewed within a year is a minor nonconformance.22Full-Service Certification Standardspage 11“Although the Statement exists and was posted, there is no evidence that it has been reviewed within the last year. … Audit Evidence: Minor Non-conformance.”USPS original In another, a mailer follows the manufacturer's maintenance schedule but not its own procedure, and earns a concern.21Full-Service Certification Standardspage 12“Mailer is meeting manufacturer’s recommendations, but not following mailer’s procedures. … Audit Evidence: Concern.”USPS original

External audit results must show that every nonconformance and concern was addressed and resolved.15Full-Service Certification Standardspage 20“Results of external audits must be maintained until the next full external audit and show that all nonconformances and/or concerns have been addressed and resolved.”USPS original

Any mailing that fails verification counts as a nonconforming product.7Full-Service Certification Standardspage 13“Any mailing that does not pass verification is considered a nonconforming product.”USPS original The Corrective Action procedure must describe what the company does when mail fails acceptance.9Full-Service Certification Standardspage 54“As part of your Corrective Action Procedure, describe the process used when mail fails acceptance for any reason.”USPS original Resolving such a mailing can mean correcting it or paying the additional postage due that USPS verification found.9Full-Service Certification Standardspage 54““Resolving” could include correcting the mailing or paying the additional postage due identified by USPS verifications.”USPS original

Applications and external audit results go to the MSPcert@usps.gov mailbox.9Full-Service Certification Standardspage 54“Go to the PostalPro Website at: https://postalpro.usps.com/certifications/standard-full-servicecertification-mailers and fill out the MSP Mail Owner Application for Full-Service Certification to apply for Full Service Certification and send to the MSPcert@usps.gov mailbox.”USPS original8Full-Service Certification Standardspage 7“The results of the external audit, including the audit score sheet, the checklist, and an executive summary must be submitted to the MSPcert@usps.gov mailbox within 21 days of the audit.”USPS original Election Mail logo files are available by request from MDA@USPS.gov.28Full-Service Certification Standardspage 56“Election Mail PDF’s are available by request from MDA@USPS.gov”USPS original