USPS says it’s too early to determine cost savings from Retail Alternatives to Post Offices

GAO Report: Action Needed to Maximize Cost-Saving Potential of Alternatives to Post Offices Highlights: USPS has expanded access to its services through alternatives to post offices in support of its goals to improve service and financial performance. Retail alternatives offer service in more locations and for longer hours, enhancing convenience for many customers, but certain […]

GAO: Restructuring USPS Business Model Could Eliminate Prefunding for Retirees Health Benefits

In a  report release yesterday GAO wrote: Restructuring USPS’s business model to adapt to decreased mail use could follow one of three primary models: a government-subsidized federal agency, the current structure with additional flexibility, or a private-sector business. See table 2 for key actions and decisions associated with each model. Financial obligations government-subsidized federal agency: […]

GAO Reportedly Says Labor Costs Is Reason For USPS Current Financial Condition

Although the full report has not been released, is this really a surprise GAO Supports Issa-Ross Arguments on USPS Overpayment – According to the Federal Eye Washington Post – Transferring tens of billions of dollars in federal worker retirement accounts back to the U.S. Postal Service would not address its long-term debt problems and would […]

GAO Recommends Recruiting Mail Carriers, Postal Retirees As Temporary Takers For 2020 Census

GAO Report: Census Bureau and Postal Service Should Pursue Opportunities to Further Enhance Collaboration Highlights The Bureau and USPS are expanding collaborative efforts for the 2020 Census. The collaborative efforts include a new Bureau initiative to continuously update its master address list using USPS and local address information. This could allow the Bureau to limit […]

GAO seeking public help in finding Employees abusing Federal Workers’ Comp Program

GAO issued the following press release: Believe You’ve Seen Evidence of Workers’ Compensation Fraud? Contact GAO Abuse of benefits by federal employees can be reported anonymously WASHINGTON, DC (July 14, 2011) – The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is investigating fraud and abuse in the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) program. Specifically, GAO is looking […]

PMG Comments On GAO Report on Five-Day Mail Delivery Readiness

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has produced a thorough and comprehensive review of the Postal Service proposal to move to a five day per week delivery schedule. We are pleased to see they agree that the Postal Service is likely to achieve significant cost savings if this change were to be effected and that much […]

GAO: Ending Saturday Delivery Would Reduce Costs, but Comprehensive Restructuring Is Also Needed

The United States Government Accountability Office issued the following report today: USPS’s proposal to move to 5-day delivery by ending Saturday delivery would likely result in substantial savings; however, the extent to which it would achieve these savings depends on how effectively this proposal is implemented. USPS’s $3.1 billion net cost-savings estimate is primarily based […]

GAO: Foreign Posts’ Strategies Could Inform USPS’s Efforts to Modernize

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released the following report: Why GAO Did This Study: The foreign postal operators (foreign posts) in industrialized countries in GAO’s review have been experiencing declining letter mail volumes and have modernized their delivery and retail networks to address this challenge. As requested, GAO reviewed the innovations and initiatives that foreign […]

USPS Still On GAO’s High Risk List

The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) today released its biennial “High Risk Series” report. The report identifies those agencies most at risk of waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement, or in need of reform. The U.S. Postal Service’s long-term outlook remains on the GAO’s high-risk list. The GAO first placed USPS on the high-risk list in April 2001 […]

GAO: Mail Processing Network Initiatives Progressing, and Guidance for Consolidating Area Mail Processing Operations Being Followed

Deteriorating financial conditions and declining mail volume have reinforced the need for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to increase operational efficiency and reduce expenses in its mail processing network. This network consists of interdependent functions in nearly 600 facilities. USPS developed several initiatives to reduce costs and increase efficiency; however, moving forward on some initiatives […]