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Audit Reports

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Jul
20
2020
Report Number:
20-112-R20
Report Type:
Audit Reports
Category: Delivery / Mail Processing, Service Performance

Fiscal Year 2019 Delivery and Retail Response Team Follow-Up Analysis

Objective

Our objective was to evaluate recent delivery and scanning performance for selected U.S. Postal Service delivery units we audited in fiscal year (FY) 2019. We audited seven of these units based on carriers returning late to the office and 11 units based on the number of package scans performed at the unit instead of the delivery address. These units are in 17 districts throughout the seven Postal Service areas.

We issued reports for each unit and made recommendations to address and correct issues we identified. Management had implemented all of our recommendations as of February 29, 2020. In February 2020, we issued a management alert on improper scanning practices identified during these audits. In the alert, we made one recommendation for management to enhance ongoing strategies to improve scanning accuracy and enforce compliance. Management plans to fully implement our recommendation by October 31, 2020.

We issued our reports in FY 2019 before the President of the United States issued the national emergency declaration concerning the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak on March 13, 2020. Our analysis was nearly complete before the outbreak and does not reflect operational changes and/or service impacts that may have occurred as a result of the pandemic.

Finding

Our data analysis showed notable improvements during FY 2020, Quarter 2, in the number of carriers returning to their units by 6 p.m. at the units we audited. We also noted reductions in the number of improper package scans, which indicate overall improved performance and compliance with Postal Service policies. Specifically, we noted:

Carriers Returning Late: We found that all seven sites we reviewed increased the number of carriers returning by 6 p.m. during FY 2020, Quarter 2. These improvements ranged from a 6 percent increase for College Station in NY to a 21 percent increase for West Park Station in PA.

Package Scans: We found that seven of the 11 sites (64 percent) we reviewed reduced the number of packages scanned at the unit during FY 2020, Quarter 2. These improvements ranged from a 68 percent reduction for Carmel Valley Carrier Annex in CA to a 99 percent reduction for Surprise Station in AZ.

Management recently released a new scan report that districts can use to monitor scanning integrity and ensure unit instructions given to carriers are consistent with Postal Service policies.

Recommendations

We made no recommendations in this report; however, we will continue to analyze this activity and may perform additional work in the future.

Report Recommendations

# Recommendation Status Value Initial Management Response USPS Proposed Resolution OIG Response Final Resolution
1

We made no recommendations in this report.
However, we will continue to analyze this activity and may perform additional work in the future.

Closed $0 Agree