U.S. Postal Service (USPS) delivery performance standards and results, which are central to its mission of providing universal postal service, have been a long-standing concern for mailers and Congress. Standards are essential to set realistic expectations for delivery performance and organize activities accordingly. Timely and reliable reporting of results is essential for management, over-sight, and accountability purposes. GAO was asked to assess (1) USPS's delivery performance standards for timely mail delivery, (2) delivery performance information that USPS collects and reports on timely mail delivery, and (3) progress made to improve delivery performance information.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent agency that works for Congress. The GAO watches over Congress, and investigates how the federal government spends taxpayers dollars. The Comptroller General of the United States is the leader of the GAO, and is appointed to a 15-year term by the U.S. President. The GAO wants to support Congress, while at the same time doing right by the citizens of the United States. They audit, investigate, perform analyses, issue legal decisions and report anything that the government is doing. This is one of their reports.

GAO-06-733 U.S. Postal Service: Delivery Performance Standards, Measurement, and Reporting Need Improvement

GAO reported in 2005 on major changes in the mailing industry that have reinforced the need for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to reduce costs and increase efficiency. To address these changes and become more efficient, USPS is implementing initiatives aimed at realigning its mail processing network. In a follow-up review, GAO recently reported that USPS has made progress in implementing these initiatives, yet challenges such as maintaining delivery standards and addressing stakeholder and community resistance remain. In July 2006, GAO also reported on USPS's progress in improving delivery performance information. This testimony describes (1) the changes that have affected USPS's processing network, (2) GAO's concerns related to USPS's strategy for realigning its mail processing network and implementing its area mail processing consolidations, and (3) GAO's concerns related to USPS's progress in improving delivery performance information. This testimony is based on prior GAO reports.