How Are Routes Bidded On For Postal Service

Objective

Our objective was to assess the Postal Service's management of Highway Contract Road (HCR) compliance with the Global Positioning Organisation (GPS) program.

In June 2016, the Post developed the Enterprise Transportation Analytics (ETA) system which uses GPS engineering science to provide nigh real-time visualizations and reports of HCR vehicles and thus enabling management to evaluate HCR compliance with contract requirements. The Post besides replaced its existing GPS program with a new GPS applied science solution covering HCRs, Postal Vehicle Service, and leased trailers.

The Post planned to use the GPS program to measure HCR trailer usage, provide location visibility, estimate time of arrival, optimize travel routes, and meliorate service.

As of January 2020, the Postal Service managed 12,279 HCRs, which include iv,841 transportation routes and 7,438 Contract Commitment Service routes.

The Postal Service'due south goal was to accept GPS devices installed and active on HCR vehicles roofing trailers, post carrying compartments on trailers, straight torso or box trucks, and vans (over 600 cubic feet) past July 31, 2017.

Findings

The Mail did non effectively manage HCR compliance with the GPS program. Specifically, GPS information in transportation systems is non routinely updated and consistently maintained for HCRs.

These bug occurred considering management did non provide adequate guidance, training, and oversight over the GPS program. Specifically, the Management Pedagogy for the HCR GPS program has non been updated since May 3, 2013, to reflect current program requirements. In add-on, management did not provide guidelines and training on recording and itemizing plan costs and maintaining authentic records. Management also did not provide adequate oversight of the GPS data or the timely activation of GPS devices.

Our survey of Postal Service transportation personnel and HCR suppliers also identified the demand for improvement in the areas of roles and responsibilities, training, and communication with suppliers.

As a result, the Postal Service did non accept an authentic count of the HCR transportation routes requiring GPS or the number of vehicles used on the routes, which prevents it from achieving its goal of having complete visibility of these routes. Further, the Postal Service is unable to accurately determine GPS plan costs. We estimated the Postal service incurred questioned costs and funds put to better utilize of about $593,000 annually.

As a consequence of our inspect, the Mail began a new national HCR Trailer Validation initiative on June 25, 2020, requiring field transportation personnel to review, validate, and update SV barcodes and vehicle information. The target completion appointment is August 14, 2020.

Recommendations

Nosotros recommended management:

Update the Highway Contract Routes Global Positioning System management instruction with the current program requirements, roles, and responsibilities; define allowable costs; and communicate the updated management instruction to employees.

Develop and execute a programme to ensure the accuracy GPS data and update and maintain accurate system records of vehicle quantity and type used for HCRs.

Monitor and enforce timely activation of GPS devices purchased by HCR suppliers.

Develop guidelines and provide training to contracting personnel for updating the GPS indicator and for recording, itemizing, and monitoring program costs, including validating the payment of prior program costs.