Policy AM-503-1 Municipal Post Office

The Municipal Post Office (MPO) handles incoming and outgoing U.S. Mail, including parcels, heavy or bulky packages and interdepartmental mail for agencies, which include insertion of return envelopes, invoices or standardized notice letters, registered mail, priority delivery, certified mail and express mail.

Requests for postage stamps should be based on extenuating circumstances that prevent the agency to utilize the MPO. Requisitions for postage stamps, related postal supplies and services must be sent to Accounting Operations for disbursement, but must be initially processed by the MPO since they are responsible for approval. All postage stamps and postal related supplies, equipment and services within the City government are provided by the MPO’s procurement. Use of all postage stamps and postal related supplies, equipment and services must be reviewed by the Director of Communication Services in all relative matters involving the above mentioned services and equipment. This addresses all postal-related service and equipment including, but not limited to: <ul> <li>Consultants</li> <li>Maintenance</li> <li>Training</li> <li>Hardware</li> <li>Software</li> <li>Grant Applications</li> </ul> Approval by the Director of Communication Services is required before a vendor contact may be initiated on any postal related matter.

U.S. Mail and parcels for City agencies are picked up and delivered by the MPO several times a day at designated locations within agency, City departments and related locations. All outgoing U. S. Mail must be bound together and accompanied by a completed CHARGE TICKET, MPO (28-1428-5110) {<cite data-path="§AM-503-1-2">AM-503-1-2</cite>}. When sending special mail, indicate type of special mail service desired directly on the charge ticket and secure properly. Special arrangements must be made at least five (5) business days in advance with the MPO supervisor to arrange for pick up and processing of heavy or large mailings. Sufficient notice will insure timely processing.

The MPO does not deliver personal packages or magazines to employees.

Address standardization has the potential to improve business-to-business mail processing and save cost. For better address quality: or <strong>For Better Mailing Results, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has issued these helpful guidelines</strong>:

For Bulk Mailing Permits, each request must be accompanied by a deposit, for the USPS, equivalent to the total amount of postage to be complete the shipment. Bulk Mailings must have a minimum of 200 pieces or 50 lbs of mail per mailing.

An agency is charged at the end of each month for accumulated postage incurred through use of the MPO's standard metered system.

All pickup and delivery service areas of the MPO are designated in MAILING ADDRESSES FOR CITY OFFICES {<cite data-path="§AM-102-1">AM-102-1</cite>}. Areas not served by MPO are served directly by the U. S. Postal Service.

An agency head is requested to utilize change of address cards when the agency's mailing address has been changed. Change of address cards are available at the MPO.

In order for agencies to create a new mail account, the agency must perform the following:

The MPO is located at 100 N. Guilford Ave, Baltimore, MD 21202, located at the rear of Courthouse East 111 N. Calvert St.