Automation Discounts for Full-Service Intelligent Mail
You can get cheaper postal rates by bulk mailing. For more information on bulk mail and whether it's right for your parish, contact your local post office or business mail entry unit.
In order to receive automation discounts, the United States Postal Service® (USPS) requires you to prepare Full-Service Intelligent Mail. This means applying an Intelligent Mail barcode to mail and submitting postage statements and mailing documentation electronically.
What You'll Need to Do
- Prepare all the necessary accounts, codes, and information.
- Run EZ-Mail in your PDS program.
- Submit your electronic documents using the Business Customer Gateway website.
- Print your Intelligent Mail barcodes and apply them to your mailpieces, trays, and pallets.
- Take your bulk mailing to your post office.
Prepare for Automation Discounts
To be sure you receive automation discounts, follow these steps. Give yourself plenty of time to complete this before your first bulk mailing is scheduled to go out.
- Create a free USPS Business Customer Gateway (BCG) account, if your parish doesn't already have one.
- Go to the BCG site at https://gateway.usps.com/, and click Register for free.
- Follow the instructions to create a user name and password.
- Enter your name and contact information.
- Read the privacy policy. If you agree, click Create Account.
- You'll receive an email from USPSPostalService@usps.com with your account information.
- In the Getting Started window, select whether to get the core suite of USPS Business Services or to customize your services.
- If you custom select services, make sure you select Manage Mailing Activity.
- Once you create an account, you can access PostalOne!® services via theBCG.
- Locate your Mailing Permit number(s).
- Get the Facility Identifier ID of the post office where you plan to submit your mailing.
- Obtain a Nonprofit Authorization number.
- Ensure you have the 9-digit ZIP Code for the post office where you're submitting your mailing.
Once you have everything prepared, you can run EZ-Mail in your PDS program.
Automation Discount Requirements Information
- Business Customer Gateway (BCG) Account
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This is the entry point for USPS online business services. If your parish doesn't already have one, create a free account on the BCG site at https://gateway.usps.com/. It could take at least 24 hours for the account to be established.
- Customer Registration ID (CRID)
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Unique number used by the USPS that identifies a specific business location (your parish) involved in a mailing. It is created automatically when your register for a BCG account. To find yours, log in to the BCG site, click Manage Account, then go to the Home Business Location section.
- Facility Identifier ID
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Each post office has one or more unique ID. To get this, contact the post office where you plan to submit your mailing.
- Mailer ID
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Six or nine-digit number assigned by the USPS that identifies the specific business (your parish) sending the mailing. It is automatically assigned when you register for a BCG account. To find yours, log in to the BCG site, click Manage Account, click Manage Services, then click Mailer ID. If it doesn't display, go to the Mailer ID tool, and click Request a MID.
- Mailing Permit Number
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Permission to use a certain postage payment method for bulk mailings. Applying for a permit is different from applying for nonprofit mailing privileges. First decide how you want to pay postage, then apply for your mailing permit. After that, you can apply for nonprofit. Ask your local post office to help you take the correct steps in the correct order.
The USPS assigns this number after you complete the application process. There is no fee to apply for a permit to mail with precanceled stamps or a postage meter. There is a one-time fee to apply for a permit to mail with permit imprint. You must hold a permit and pay an annual mailing fee at every post office you use for mailing. Contact your local post office for more on fees.
To find yours, log in to the BCG site, and click the Mailing Services tab. Beside Manage Permits (PostalOne!®), click Go To Service, then click your location name. Your linked permits display at the bottom. If your permits don't display, contact PostalOne!® Customer Care. You can also contact your local post office to get this number.
- Nonprofit Authorization Number
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Identifies and authorizes your parish to mail using nonprofit prices. To get this, contact your local post office. If your parish hasn't done so already, you can apply for authorization to mail at nonprofit prices. It takes about two weeks for your application to be approved. There is no fee to apply for nonprofit status. However, you will need to pay an annual mailing fee when submitting a mailing and, if you decide to pay with permit imprint, a permit imprint application fee.
To find yours, log in to the BCG site, and click Business and Fees.
- Post Office ZIP Code
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Nine-digit ZIP Code of the post office where your mailing permit is held and where you submit your mailings. This may not be the same as your parish ZIP Code. To get this, contact the post office where you plan to submit your mailing.