Saving the Postal Service also requires reforming its contracting policies, according to a bill introduced by Rep. Issa (R-Calif.) on June 23, 2011. Prompted by the Postal Service’s decision to stop paying into the federal retirement system and $27 billion in projected losses over three years, the bill would enact sweeping reforms. The “Postal Reform Act of 2011” would create two separate oversight bodies that would have broad, receivership-type authority to impose cost-cutting measures on the agency. While curing postal deficits is the primary goal, the bill specifically addresses postal procurement practices and would impact postal contracting in significant ways. Read on for the details.

The Postal Service recently issued a revised version of its purchasing policy manual, called the Supplying Principles and Practices (SPP).  The changes adopt recommendations made by the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) in two high-level reviews conducted in 2010. The revisions add new procedures and requirements applicable to noncompetitive procurements, and establish an internal Competition Advocate.  For more details, read on.