If you have ever read postal documents or rules, you have likely encountered confusing acronyms and foreign terms. Below is a recap of the most common terms for catalogers, reading this will have you on your way to fluency in USPS.
SCF: Sectional Center Facility
A Sectional Center Facility (SCF) is a Processing and Distribution Center of the United States Postal Service (USPS) that serves a designated geographical area defined by one or more three-digit ZIP Code prefixes. A Sectional Center Facility routes mail between local post offices and to and from Network Distribution Centers (NDC),
NDC: Network Distribution Center
A Network Distribution Center (NDC) is a Processing and Distribution Center of the United States Postal Service (USPS) that serves large geographical areas and form a Hub and Spoke Program (HASP) system with the Sectional Center Facilities (SCF). The NDC was formerly known as a BMC.
CAPS: Centralized Account Processing System
A postage payment system that business mailers can use to fund postage. CAPS is an electronic alternative to presenting checks and cash for postage and fees at multiple Post Offices. CAPS offers two account types: a centralized trust fund account using electronic funds transfer to the CAPS bank prior to mailing and a centralized debit account in which a customer designates a debit-enabled bank account for postage charges.
CRID: Customer Registration ID
A number up to 15 digits long that uniquely identifies a customer at a location and connects the customer’s company information by physical address across multiple applications and to any account established for the customer. A CRID is associated with every customer regardless of permit number or Mailer ID and is confidentially treated like an account number.
MID: Mailer ID
A 6-digit or 9-digit number in the 31-digit Intelligent Mail barcode that uniquely identifies the mail owner or mailing agent. The Full-Service Intelligent Mail option requires a unique number (i.e., Mailpiece ID) in the Serial Number field in the Intelligent Mail barcode on every piece in a mailing.
Full Service:
One of two Intelligent Mail offerings that requires a maximum 31-digit Intelligent Mail barcode comprising five fields: the Barcode ID, Service Type Identifier, Mailer ID, Serial Number, and Routing Code. The Full-Service Intelligent Mail option requires unique mailpiece barcodes, the use of Intelligent Mail barcodes on tray labels or container placards, electronic documentation, and the use of Facility Access and Shipment Tracking to schedule appointments for the entry of mailings. The Dingley Press is Full Service and our customers receive a postage discount as a result of this offering.
