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ing marketing programs, it supervises a market research function which carries out (or obtains from contractors) market studies to measure customer reaction to present and proposed postal products and product concepts. It also maintains a product development staff responsible for revising current products and developing new ones, and directs the work of product promotion.

(D) Advertising. The Customer Services Department establishes, in conjunction with the Public and Employee Communications Department, product marketing plans, including the formulation of advertising and promotion strategies, programs and budgets; and develops advertising, in concert with the Public and Employee Communications Department.

(E) Philatelic Affairs. The Customer Services Department is responsible for the Postal Service's philatelic program. See Part 257 of this chapter for a description.

(F) International Postal Affairs. International Postal Affairs within the Customer Services Department represents the U.S. Postal Service in its relationships with other countries and with international postal organizations, such as the Universal Postal Union and the Postal Union of the Americas and Spain. Working with other functional areas, it develops and recommends U.S. policy and positions on proposals of foreign governments submitted to postal congresses, prepares and recommends U.S. proposals, and negotiates postal agreements with other countries. It maintains liaison with other Government agencies, such as the State Department, on nonoperational international mail matters. It assigns international postal matters to functional areas for statements of policy or recommendations of policy, reports or correspondence, particularly in the areas of international rates and classification, international money orders, logistics, and parcel post. It directs the foreign visitor programs; develops training programs for visiting postal study groups; maintains liaison with the Agency for International Development on the training of participants from other countries; and directs the international personnel exchange program. It is responsible for protocol in dealing with foreign visitors and for translations of foreign materials.

(6) Judicial Officer. (i) The Judicial Officer is an independent officer, located within the Administration Group, who performs quasijudicial and other func

tions. He administratively supervises Administrative Law Judges and hears appeals from their decisions. He serves with them on the Board of Contract Appeals, of which he is exofficio Chairman.

(ii) The Judicial Officer has authority to:

(A) Execute in his own name the final decision and order in proceedings authorized by section 1717 of title 18, and by sections 3001(a), 3003, 3004, 3005, and 3007 of title 39. United States Code, appeals from administrative denial, suspension or revocation of second-class mail permits, administrative proposals to refuse to rent, to renew the rental of, or to close a post office box and other proceedings authorized by Postal Service regulations to be brought before the Administrative Law Judge or the Judicial Officer:

(B) Modify, suspend, or rescind any action heretofore taken (including any order issued) or which hereafter may be taken by the Judicial Officer pursuant to the powers, functions, authority, and duties vested in the Postmaster General and the Postal Service with respect to the matters covered by subparagraph A of this paragraph;

(C) Preside at the reception of evidence in proceedings where expedited hearings are requested by either party or are provided in rules of practice, and issue a tentative decision in such cases;

(D) Revise or amend the rules governing eligibility to practice before the Postal Service and to revise or amend the Postal Service rules of practice governing proceedings conducted under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapters 5 and 7) and in other proceedings in which the Judicial Officer is authorized to execute a final decision and order;

(E) Name and delegate authority to an Acting Judicial Officer;

(F) Exercise jurisdiction over the Administrative Law Judges for administrative purposes only, but not to direct or participate in the initial decision of Administrative Law Judges in any proceeding:

(G) Exercise such other authority as may be delegated to him.

(iii) Decisions and orders of the Judicial Officer made under the delegated authority shall be the final Postal Service decisions and orders except that the Judicial Officer may refer any proceeding to either the Postmaster General or the Deputy Postmaster General for final de

cision. The Judicial Officer does not determine the constitutionality of statutes nor the validity of Postal Service regulations. The Law Department and the Postal Inspection Service do not participate in or advise as to the decisions of the Judicial Officer in any proceeding. (iv) Office of Administrative Law Judge: (A) Administrative Law Judges are appointed and qualified as prescribed by law. They preside at administrative hearings involving alleged violations of postal laws or conflicts arising over second-class mail permits and other proceedings as provided by Postal Service regulations.

(B) Initial decisions prepared by Administrative Law Judges become final Postal Service decisions unless an appeal is taken to the Judicial Officer. Administrative Law Judges do not determine the constitutionality of statutes nor the validity of Postal Service regulations.

(C) The Administrative Law Judges are under the jurisdiction of the Judicial Officer for administrative purposes only, in the same manner as are Administrative Law Judges assigned to independent regulatory commissions.

thority for all matters pertaining to employee relations throughout the Postal Service. It directs the development, implementation, and auditing of employee relations plans, policies, standards, and procedures. It establishes broad employee relations policy for the Postal Service in the areas of labor relations, employee services, and manpower planning and development. It represents and takes final action for the Postmaster General in all employee relations matters including negotiating for the Postal Service in collective bargaining with the postal unions. It directs the administration of collective bargaining agreements and negotiated grievance procedures. It directs the implementation of the National Labor Relations Act and applicable executive orders and directives pertinent to employee relations matters. It directs the development and maintenance of a strong auditing system for assuring compliance with established employee relations policy throughout the Postal Service. It directs an organization and manpower planning program to serve each postal unit in establishing the proper "table of organization" and to improve the operating effectiveness of these units through management and career development, skills training, and professional development. In this connection, it organizes and manages field training and management development installations. It establishes and maintains a manpower information system to provide accurate data in manpower planning, staffing, and other employee relations matters. It directs the administration of all employee services throughout the Postal Service which includes wage and salary administration and benefits, recruiting and staffing, personnel services, accident prevention, and occupational health services. It directs an employee communications program in conjunction with the Public and Employee Communications Department to keep the employees informed of plans, programs, and newsworthy items of interest to a well-informed postal worker. It is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of equal employment opportunity affirmative action within the Postal Service. It supervises employee relations research activities to establish or change personnel programs or procedures or to evaluate their effectiveness. It provides direction and authority for all matters concerning job evaluation throughout the Postal

(v) Board of Contract Appeals: (A) The Board of Contract Appeals is the authorized representative of the Postmaster General to hear and decide appeals from decisions of contracting officers when and to the extent such appeals are expressly authorized by the terms of any contract to which the Postal Service of the United States is a party. The chairman of the Board of Contract Appeals is authorized to promulgate rules of procedure for the Board of Contract Appeals. These duties shall be performed by the members of the Board of Contract Appeals in addition to their regular duties in the Postal Service.

(B) The Board of Contract Appeals for the Postal Service is composed of the Judicial Officer, who is the permanent chairman; the Chief Administrative Law Judge, who shall be a permanent member; and one of the Administrative Law Judges of the Postal Service, appointed pursuant to law and designated by the Judicial Officer on an acting basis.

§ 224.2 Employee and Labor Relations Group.

(a) The Employee and Labor Relations Group is headed by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General. Employee and Labor Relations, who reports to the Postmaster General. It provides direction and au

Service. It is also responsible for all matters pertaining to headquarters personnel facilities.

(b) As head of the Employee and Labor Relations Group, the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Employee and Labor Relations, is responsible for the initiation, development, implementation, direction, administration and execution of all matters pertaining to employee and labor relations throughout the U.S. Postal Service.

(c) The Employee and Labor Relations Group is divided into two departments whose heads report to and are responsible for compliance with the directives and assignments of the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Employee and Labor Relations:

(1) Employee Relations Department. The Employee Relations Department is headed by the Assistant Postmaster General for Employee Relations. It provides, in accordance with the opening sentence of this paragraph, direction and authority for all matters pertaining to employee relations throughout the Postal Service. Generally it is concerned with matters and employees not covered by collective bargaining agreements.

(2) Labor Relations Department. The Labor Relations Department is headed by the Assistant Postmaster General for Labor Relations. It provides, in accordance with the opening sentence of this paragraph, direction and authority for all matters pertaining to labor relations throughout the Postal Service. Generally it is concerned with matters involved in the negotiation and implementation of collective bargaining agreements. § 224.3

Finance Group.

(a) Three functions that provide financial and management support for postal activities are included in the Finance Group headed by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Finance, who reports to the Postmaster General.

(b) The Finance Group is divided into two departments and one office, heads of which report to the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Finance. The Finance Group departments and office are:

(1) Finance Department. The Finance Department is headed by the Assistant Postmaster General, Finance. It is divided into the offices of the Controller and Treasurer and the Office of Rates and Classification. It is responsible for forecasting and meeting the Postal Serv

ice's requirements for long term capital and short term borrowing. It invests the funds of the Service and prescribes and monitors practices governing cash management. It works with other officials in developing credit management policies. The Finance Department designs and maintains the Postal Service rate structure, develops and administers standards and procedures relating to mail classification, cost analysis and attribution, and related functions, and makes and defends recommendations to the Postal Rate Commission in conjunction with the Law Department. The Finance Department develops the systems and specifies the standards and schedules for the Postal Service's budget process. It analyzes budget requests and makes recommendations to the Postmaster General on budget levels. It continually analyzes Postal Service performance against operating plans. The Finance Department develops accounting policy and procedures. It operates the financial reporting program and maintains accounting controls throughout the Service. It provides the basic processing services associated with the money order program and assists the Customer Services Department in developing money order program policy.

(2) Management Information Systems Department. The Management Information Systems Department is headed by the Assistant Postmaster General, Management Information Systems. It is concerned with automatic data processing, statistical programs, information requirements, and reports. It is responsible for the prompt delivery of information on field activities to postal management. It is also responsible for the management of records and correspondence. It provides automatic data processing and statistical support to management and assists other departments of the Postal Service in determining their information needs. It specifies controls on use, modification, or implementation of information systems, including manual and automated systems. It is responsible for providing the Automatic Data Processing facilities required for operating Postal Service Information Systems. The Postal Service Records Officer, located within the Management Information Systems Department, is responsible for the establishment of records retention schedules and has the authority to authorize the disposal of records by destruction or transfer.

(3) Office of Management Services. The Office of Management Services is headed by the Director of Management Services. It serves as the principal advisor and central analytical staff on organization matters and the evaluation and design of management systems and services. It plans and conducts servicewide studies of organization and management systems; it recommends changes to correct identified management deficiencies and designs and installs improved management systems and methods. It designs and administers a servicewide directives and publications distribution program and conducts special systems studies as directed. It is responsible for the development and operation of a servicewide management improvement program and maintains liaison with other Federal agencies and private industry with regard to advanced management techniques.

§ 224.4 Operations Group.

(a) The Operations Group is headed by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Operations, who reports to the Postmaster General. It has overall responsibility for all aspects of mail processing operations within the Postal Service. This responsibility includes the collection, distribution, processing, and delivery functions, and the transportation of mail throughout the Postal Service. It establishes and evaluates mail processing policies. It has responsibility for the operation of the bulk mail program and network and transportation between the bulk mail facilities. It is responsible for insuring the achievement of service standards on a consistent basis.

(b) The heads of the Postal Regions report to the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Operations.

(c) The Operations Group is divided into three departments whose heads report to the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Operations:

(1) Bulk Mail Processing Department. The Bulk Mail Processing Department is headed by the Assistant Postmaster General, Bulk Mail Processing. It is concerned with the processing of bulk mail. It has overall responsibility for the management of bulk mail processing operations throughout the Postal Service. It provides central staff support to Regional Postmasters General for bulk mail operations and has staff capability in the areas of systems, equipment and facility engineering; distribution procedures and

mail handling; industrial engineering, plant and equipment maintenance, and performance appraisal. It also has responsibility for monitoring the productivity performance of the bulk mail processing operations of the Regions. In addition, it has direct responsibility for bulk mail installations as assigned by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Operations. In this regard, it exercises direct supervision over and is responsible for review and evaluation of the individual bulk mail facility plans and budgets.

(2) Delivery Services Department. The Delivery Services Department is headed by the Director, Delivery Services. It has overall responsibility for the national postal collection and delivery program including fleet management and establishes national collection and delivery policy and standards as they relate to published product characteristics. It establishes policy and develops programs for using the postal delivery system. It has national program planning and budget responsibility, and conducts cost benefit analyses of the entire postal delivery program, recommending potential areas for cost reductions and improvement. It has overall staff responsibility for all employees engaged in the delivery of mail and associated operational functions. In conjunction with the Employee and Labor Relations Group, it develops training programs with respect to delivery employees and specifies uniform and equipment requirements. It works in cooperation with the Research and Engineering Department to develop safety equipment. It is responsible for the design of and experimentation with carrier vehicles and for specifying and compiling vehicle requirements. As part of its program management efforts, it is responsible for developing, testing, and implementing alternate means of delivery and for establishing improved work methods and designs relating to present delivery techniques. To accomplish these two functions, it directs developmental and industrial engineering staffs which develop and evaluate prototype equipment and originate improved delivery techniques or monitor contracts for these services. It has operational responsibility for the delivery of mail in post offices, stations, and branches, and those operational functions associated with this activity, such as lock-box, caller, and firm delivery services; delivery facility re

quirements; and delivery distribution mechanization.

(3) Logistics Department. The Logistics Department is headed by the Director, Logistics. It exercises policy authority over procurement issues which by reason of law or custom are unique to mail transportation contracting. It has overall responsibility for the direction of all mail transportation and distribution within the Postal Service, to foreign countries, and to and between military installations outside the United States, and is responsible for all types of engineering necessary to support present mail processing operations. It plans and develops a national mail transportation and routing system and monitors performance of each region with respect to achievement of transportation and processing standards and productivity goals. It is also responsible for budget review and approval for all mail processing and tranportation activities not designated as part of the preferential or the bulk mail networks.

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(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 labor relations and standards, employment policy, and personal security;

(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.

§ 224.6 Inspection Service.

The Inspection Service is headed by the Chief Inspector, who reports directly to the Postmaster General. The Inspection Service is responsible for protection of the mails, enforcement of postal laws, plant and personnel security, postal inspection, and internal audits. The Inspection Service, 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 Inspector acts as security officer and defense coordinator for the Postal Establishment, maintaining liaison with other investigative and law enforcement agencies of the Government.

§ 224.7 Government Relations Depart

ment.

The Government Relations Department is headed by the Assistant Postmaster General, Government Relations who reports directly to the Postmaster General. It is responsible for cooperation

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