USPS Ground Advantage Contract Notice: Same Old, Same Old

2026-19720, National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures

The United States Postal Service is updating its rules for how it checks the environmental impact of its actions, making the process simpler and clearer. This affects USPS employees and anyone interested in how the Postal Service protects the environment. The new rules start on September 25, 2026, and the USPS wants your feedback by October 26, 2026—no extra costs involved, just smarter steps!

2026-18371, Labels 888, 889, 891, and 892, Discontinued

The Postal Service is proposing to amend Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to discontinue the use of Label 888 and Label 889 respectively. Revisions to the DMM concern only Labels 888 and 889.

2026-17884, Free Matter for the Blind and Other Physically Handicapped Persons

The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to clarify the applicability of the Hazmat Handling Fee, and to require a parcel barcode, on parcels mailed as Free Matter for the Blind and Other Physically Handicapped Persons (Free Matter).

2026-17986, Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is responding to public comments regarding the creation of a new General Privacy Act System of Records (SOR) USPS 820.225, Federal Ballot Mail. The new SOR coincides with the Postal Service's publication of the Final Rule amending the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), regarding the transmission of mail-in or absentee ballots for federal elections. The Postal Service created the SOR to maintain a list of individuals, each individual's address, the unique Intelligent Mail barcodes printed on each individual's outbound and return ballot envelope for a federal election, and the state or political subdivision thereof that issued such ballot for inclusion on a state's Mail-in and Absentee Participation List, as required by the new DMM section. There will be no changes to the new system of records in light of public comments received.

2026-17640, Change in Rates of General Applicability for Competitive Products

This notice sets forth time-limited changes in rates of general applicability for competitive products.

2026-16016, New Mailing Standards for Live Animals

The Postal Service proposes revising Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail (Pub 52), for various package requirements for live animals. This proposal will improve package integrity and container identification for all live animal shipments during processing and handling by prohibiting the reuse of fiberboard containers and requiring individual addressing and sequential numbering for multiple container shipments when bound together in a single shipment. Also, this proposal requires mailers to write the recipient's name and address directly on the packaging of Adult Bird shipments in the event the shipping label becomes detached from the packaging.

Previous: 2025-02274, Product Change-Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage® Negotiated Service Agreement

The Postal Service is adding a new shipping deal for Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage to its list of special contracts. This change affects businesses using these services and aims to offer competitive pricing and options starting early 2025. Keep an eye out if you ship packages often—this could save you money and speed up your deliveries!

Next: 2025-02276, Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Notification to Fire Safety Authority of Storage of Explosive Materials

The Department of Justice’s ATF wants to update how businesses notify fire safety officials when they store explosive materials. This change aims to make reporting easier and clearer, with a 30-day comment period open until March 10, 2025. If you handle explosives, this could affect your paperwork but won’t cost extra money.