(i) Developing the systems and specifying the standards and schedules for the Postal Service's budget process; analyzing budget requests and making recommendations to the Postmaster General on budget levels. It continually analyzes Postal Service performance against operating plans.

(ii) policy and procedures; operating the financial reporting program and maintaining accounting controls throughout the Service.

Developing accounting

(iii) Assisting the Customer Services Department in developing money

order program policy.

(iv) Also, analyzing the long-range business outlook for the postal system, including the anticipated socioeconomic environment and alternative business opportunities, and conducting studies on which to base recommendations for new or modified policies.

(2) Rates and Classification Department. The Rates and Classification Department designs and maintains the Postal Service rate and classification structure; develops and administers standards and procedures relating to cost analysis and attribution, and related functions; forecasts mail volumes; and makes and defends recommendations to the Postal Rate Commission in conjunction with the Law Department.

(3) Office of Management Services. The Office of Management Services is headed by the Director of Management Services. This Office:

(i) Serves as the principal advisor and central analytic staff on the evaluation and design of management systems and services;

(ii) Plans and conducts Service-wide studies of management, administrative, paperwork, and operational support systems; recommends changes to correct identified deficiencies; and installs improved systems and methods.

(iii) Maintains liaison with the General Accounting Office and establishes contact with other Federal agencies and private industry with regard to advanced management techniques.

(4) Records Officer. The Postal Service Records Officer has responsibility for the retention, security, and privacy of Postal Service records; authorizes their preservation and disclosure; and

orders their disposal by destruction or transfer.

(5) Office of the Treasurer. The Treasurer is responsible for Postal Service liquidity.

[48 FR 1966, Jan. 17, 1983, as amended at 48 FR 30111, June 30, 1983]

§ 224.4 Operations Group.

(a) The Operations Group is headed by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Operations, who reports to the Deputy Postmaster General. The Operations Goup:

(1) Has overall responsibility for all facets of the processing and delivery of mail, including collection, sortation, distribution and transportation throughout the Postal Service. Operations establishes and evaluates policies related to these functions, establishes and evaluates retail operations, and is responsible for insuring the consistent achievement of service standards.

(2) Establishes and evaluates programs to reduce costs for labor, transportation, supplies, and other services. (3) Directs field engineering and associated technical personnel, except those under direction of the Real Estate and Buildings Department.

(4) Establishes requirements for facilities and centrally procured mechanization and for their effective utilization.

(5) Establishes and evaluates national facility and equipment maintenance policies and approves regional plans and budgets.

(b) The Operations Group is divided into three departments and one office, each reporting directly to the

SAPMG, Operations.

(1) Mail Processing Department. (i) This Department is headed by an Assistant Postmaster General who has managerial and budgetary responsibility for the distribution, processing, and transportation of all mail throughout the Postal Service and to foreign countries, and to, from, and between U.S. military installations outside the United States.

(ii) The Department is responsible

for:

(A) Planning and developing a national mail routing and transportation

system and monitoring the performance of each region with respect to achievement of transportation and processing standards, and productivity goals.

(B) Exercising policy authority over procurement issues which, by reason of law or custom, are unique to mail transportation contracting.

(C) Budget review and approval for all regional mail processing functions.

(2) Delivery Services Department. (i) This Department is managed by an Assistant Postmaster General who has managerial and budgetary responsibility for all Postal Service city and rural collection and delivery functions, retail services, and operation and maintenance of the postal fleet.

(ii) The Department is responsible for:

(A) Establishment of policy and procedures for handling of undeliverableas-addressed mail and for distribution programs which affect the delivery of mail by carriers or the delivery of mail through lockboxes, caller service, or general delivery.

(B) Providing management direction relating to the consolidation, establishment, and/or discontinuance of any delivery service function and its associated facility.

(C) Development, testing, and implementation of productivity improvement programs for all facets of the collection, delivery and fleet operations.

(3) Engineering and Technical Support Department. This Department is headed by an Assistant Postmaster General who is responsible for:

(i) Planning and approving all USPS requirements for postal facilities and centrally procured mechanization;

(ii) Establishing standards for the effective use of mechanization and facility resources;

(iii) Establishing national policy and programs for the repair and maintenance of facilities and of mail processing, customer service, and delivery equipment;

(iv) Developing engineering policy and providing technical services and functional guidance to field engineering in order to improve productivity and reduce operating costs; and

(v) Establishing and implementing engineering programs in support of postal cost and service objectives. (vi) Operating the Postal Laboratory conducting application engineering

programs.

(4) Operating Policies Office. This office is managed by the Director, Operating Policies, who has overall responsibility for policy-making and for directing the SAPMG's administrative staff. Responsibilities include:

Providing operational policy, planning and direction for field units. (ii) Providing administrative services for the Operations Group.

(iii) Evaluation of regional budgets and their execution, regional service and productivity performance, and regional adherence to policy actions and programs.

(iv) Serving as point of contact with other Headquarters organizations and between Headquarters departments and the regions in explanation of national service procedures and policies, and

(v) Representing the Operations Group in all aspects of labor and employee relations.

[48 FR 1967, Jan. 17, 1983, as amended at 48 FR 30111, June 30, 1983]

§ 224.5 Research and Management Systems Group.

(a) The Research and Management Systems Group is headed by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Research and Management Systems Group, who reports to the Deputy Postmaster General. The Group is divided into two Departments and one Office whose heads report to the SAPMG, Research and Management Systems Group.

(b) Information Resource Management Department. The Information Research Management Department is headed by an APMG and is responsible for:

(1) Formulating and administering information policy within the Postal Service;

(2) Providing guidance to the USPS in utilizing information technologies as key resources;

(3) Developing strategies to improve the level of information management

systems that will reduce or avoid USPS operating costs, increase productivity, and increase flexibility of information systems;

(4) Applying technology and deploying resources to achieve information resource strategies;

(5) Directing and maintaining the Postal Service information plan;

(6) Implementing the business systems plan;

(7) Directing the information systems planning, design, and development process; the USPS information quality assurance process; and support of telecommunications services;

(8) Planning and administering all IRM organization, employee, contracting, facility, and funding resources necessary to accomplish the IRM functions;

(9) Providing data processing support services for the USPS, including advice on acquisition and development of data processing equipment;

(10) Establishing appropriate policy and procedures with regard to computer-based information systems;

(11) Planning, developing policies, and managing a national point-topoint data communications system satisfying USPS requirements;

(12) Reviewing and approving USPS requirements for telephone switchboards (PBX), radio systems, intercommunication and sound equipment, low speed data transmission systems (teletype and facsimile), and data transmission lines;

(13) Operating Postal Data Centers (PDC), Automated Data Processing Centers (ADPC);

(14) Providing payroll processing and distribution services, accounting services, and funds disbursement services under policy direction of the Controller Department;

(15) Providing computer programming and information systems analysis service;

(16) Providing functional guidance to the regional Management Information Branches;

(17) Maintaining liaison with professional groups concerned with ADP technology, teleprocessing statistics, and operations research.

(c) Office of Data Management. The Office of Data Management is responsible for:

(1) The USPS data policy;

(2) Planning for efficient utilization of USPS data resources;

(3) Directing the creation of the systems architectural and administering the utilization of data classes within the architecture;

(4) Establishing and administering the procedure for data access and storage;

(5) Managing the use of data base management technologies and techniques on all USPS computers; and

(6) Directing the USPS forms and directives control functions.

(d) Office of Planning and Development. The Office of Planning and Development is responsible for:

(1) Developing all management information planning, and providing strategic information on trends which may affect Postal Service information needs;

(2) Developing and implementing the information systems plan;

(3) Defining the USPS Business Systems Planning Report (BSP), controlling the information requirements systems development, and coordinating the acquistion of resources required for implementation;

(4) Directing and administering the USPS Office Automation Program.

(e) Technology Resource Department. The Technology Resource Department is headed by an APMG and is responsible for:

(1) Supporting the technology planning process.

(2) Developing and maintaining long range technology development planning.

(3) Managing system and technology studies undertaken to increase future postal productivity.

(4) Managing advanced research ac

tivities in emerging technologies

which may have applicability to postal systems.

(5) Transferring developed technology to the Engineering and Technical Support Department for implementation.

(f) Office of Special Projects. The Office of Special Projects is headed by a Director and is responsible for the

management of specific projects with the Research and Management Systems Group.

[48 FR 30111, June 30, 1983]

§ 224.6 Law Department.

(a) The Law Department is headed by the General Counsel, who reports directly to the Postmaster General.

(b) The Law Department:

(1) Serves as legal advisor to the Postmaster General, the Deputy Postmaster General, and the entire Postal Service; this includes making rulings, giving advisory opinions, drafting or approving legal instruments, and representing the Service in administrative proceedings and in judicial proceedings as authorized;

(2) Interprets laws in relation to the Postal Service;

(3) Institutes and maintains administrative proceedings in the consumer protection area;

(4) Prepares the legislative program of the Postal Service, and prepares and submits reports and testimony on all legislation introduced in Congress that would affect the Postal Service;

(5) Is responsible for publication of regulations in the FEDERAL REGISTER;

(6) Manages the regional and field programs that are under the jurisdiction of the General Counsel and operates directly the field program in the area of labor relations law;

(7) Administers activities under the Tort Claims Act, and other personal injury and physical loss claims;

(8) Maintains liaison with other elements of the Government on legal matters and determines questions concerning legal relations between the Postal Service and Government agencies;

(9) Renders legal services concerning employees and labor relations matters; (10) Furnishes legal support in connection with all procurement and contracting activities;

(11) Performs legal services in connection with proceedings before the Postal Rate Commission;

(12) Acts as agent for the receipt of legal process on behalf of the Postal Service and the Postmaster General and other Headquarters officials resulting from the performance of their official functions;

(13) Provides legal services in connection with denials and revocations of second-class mailing privileges in proceedings before hearing examiners and the Judicial Officer;

(14) Represents Postal Service Contracting Officers before the Board of Contract Appeals;

(15) Administers the Ethical Conduct Program; and

(16) Interprets postal treaties and conventions.

[38 FR 20406, July 31, 1973. Redesignated at 40 FR 11723, Mar. 13, 1975; redesignated further at 43 FR 29119, July 6, 1978 and 43 FR 41984, Sept. 19, 1978; 46 FR 34330, July 1, 1981; 46 FR 40876, Aug. 13, 1981]

§ 224.7 Inspection Service Department.

The Inspection Service Department is headed by the Chief Postal Inspector, who reports directly to the Postmaster General. The Inspection Service Department is responsible for protection of the mails, enforcement of postal laws, plant and personnel security, postal inspection, and internal audits. The Inspection Service Department, in accordance with applicable policies, regulations, and procedures, carries out investigations and presents evidence to the Department of Justice and U.S. attorneys in investigations of a criminal nature. It also undertakes operating inspections and audits for the Postal Service. The Chief Postal Inspector acts as security officer and defense coordinator for the Postal Service, maintaining liaison with other investigative and law enforcement agencies of the Government.

[43 FR 29119, July 6, 1978. Redesignated at 43 FR 41984, Sept. 19, 1978]

other policy matters in public areas involving congressional committees or individual Congressmen. It maintains liaison with Members of Congress and their staffs for the purpose of consulting and providing information as requested on specific legislation and on Postal Service policies and operations, and (except for the Law Department, as to matters within its responsibility) is the Postal Service's spokesman in this regard.

[38 FR 20406, July 31, 1973. Redesignated at 40 FR 11723, Mar. 13, 1975, 43 FR 29119, July 6, 1978, and 43 FR 41984, Sept. 19, 1978]

§ 224.9 Public and Employee Communications Department.

The Public and Employee Communications Department is headed by the Assistant Postmaster General, Public and Employee Communications, who reports directly to the Postmaster General. It is responsible for the interchange of information with employees and the public and for assuring that all information disseminated is consistent with management policies and practices.

[38 FR 20406, July 31, 1973. Redesignated at 40 FR 11723, Mar. 13, 1975; 43 FR 29119, July 6, 1978, and 43 FR 41984, Sept. 19, 1978]

§ 224.10 Planning Department.

The Planning Department is headed by the Assistant Postmaster General, Planning, who reports directly to the Postmaster General. It is responsible for:

(a) Assisting departments in developing and coordinating comprehensive, effective plans and programs in accordance with the goals and objectives set by the Postmaster General and the Board of Governors;

(b) Identifying and forecasting economic, political, social, technical, and market trends and events affecting the Postal Service;

(c) Formulating alternative business strategies and projecting long range business targets as a basis for setting goals and objectives.

[48 FR 1968, Jan. 17, 1983. Redesignated at 48 FR 30111, June 30, 1983]

§ 224.11 Executive Assistant to the Postmaster General.

The Executive Assistant to the Postmaster General is a principal advisor to the Postmaster General on matters of the highest level involving organization, administration, and policy formulation and issuance; performs special functions as directed by the Postmaster General; reports directly to the Postmaster General; serves as secretary to the Executive Committee (see § 221.5(d) of this chapter); and has coordinating responsibility for Board of Governors' meetings; and is also the Postmaster General's designee as the USPS liaison official to receive requests from the Postal Rate Commission for general information and for arranging Commission visits to postal installations.

[45 FR 43719, June 30, 1980. Redesignated at 48 FR 1968, Jan. 17, 1983, and 48 FR 30111, June 30, 1983]