(v) Conducts periodic surveys of vehicle maintenance facilities in the region to determine effectiveness of, and to improve, the maintenance program.

(vi) Reviews requests for and recommends additional, new, or modernized vehicle facilities, including garage layout and equipment requirements, based on service needs.

(vii) Develops guidelines for use of postmasters in soliciting bids for contract maintenance; makes continuous review of performance under approved contracts.

(viii) Administers the vehicle disposal program; in conjunction with local services division, develops annual vehicle procurement needs.

(6) Procurement and Supply Branch. (i) Administers the regional procurement, supply and personal property management programs.

(ii) Approves, accomplishes and administers procurement of services, supplies and equipment; maintains liaison with GSA on matters pertaining to supply, distribution and transportation.

(iii) Develops, reviews and approves plans and funds for regional and local purchases, subject to targeting responsibilities and fund control by the regional controller.

(iv) Approves procurement, delivery criteria and schedules.

(v) Develops and issues guidelines for use by postmasters in soliciting bids for services, supplies and equipment. Reviews and approves contracts.

(vi) Exercises management control of regional office personal property and determination of requirements and inventory management of selected equipment for regional storage.

(vii) Administers the utilization of all serviceable excess and the disposal of obsolete and unserviceable personal property; arranges for transportation aspects of redistributing equipment.

(viii) Administers regional office small purchase imprest funds.

(ix) Provides training to post office personnel in contracting and procurement.

(x) Recommends to local services division the procurement and supply staffing requirements at larger post offices.

Sec.

824.4 Systems and Planning. 824.5 Data Operations.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 824 issued under R.S. 161, as amended; 5 U.S.C. 301, 39 U.S.C. 501, 505.

SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 824 appear at 31 F.R. 9674, July 16, 1966, unless otherwise noted.

§ 824.1

Postal Data Center Director.

(a) Administers the execution of policies, regulations, and procedures governing and takes action within his delegated authority on matters relating to management and operation of the postal data center.

(b) Is responsible for the efficient management, use, and control of manpower, allotted funds, facilities, and equipment within the authority delegated funds, facilities, and equipment within the authority delegated to PDC.

(c) Directs activities and exercises overall supervision of employees of the postal data center to ensure that effective performance of the activities of the postal data center is established and maintained.

(d) Maintains continuous surveillance over services provided regional offices, postal installations and other customers to ensure that effective services are provided and customer relations maintained.

(e) Adjudicates and settles personal or property damage claims in amounts of less than $100. Adjusts and settles postmasters' claims for losses due to fire, theft, burglary or other unavoidable casualties.

§ 824.2

Administrative Office.

Provides staff assistance to the Director, Postal Data Center, relating to administrative and service functions for the postal data center.

§ 824.3 Processing and control.

(a) Processing and Control Division. (1) Reviews and certifies all input to the data operations division; processes payrolls and maintains controls over payroll deductions and receivables; prepares and certifies for payment all disbursements for which the postal data center is responsible, including but not limited to transportation claims, contract stations, torts and indemnity claims, uniform allowances, rents and leases, travel, etc. Audits financial accounts of all postmasters served by the postal data center to assure compliance with laws, regula

tions and Comptroller General decisions. Maintains technical liaison with postal installations being serviced by the postal data center. When technical liaison involves responsibilities of the regional controller division, new policy items of a controversial nature will be cleared through them.

(2) Maintains general ledger for the several regions being served and establishes controls for the data operations division, and reviews and approves all reports prior to release to consumers.

(3) Processes input data from new applications for data processing, such as transportation schemes and routing, inspection service workload data, procurement and supply transaction data, volume and performance data.

(4) Signs and issues U.S. Treasury checks for all payments made by the center. Issues and accounts for all U.S. savings bonds in connection with payroll savings plan. Receives and accounts for all funds received by the PDC.

(5) Acts as liaison with regional distributing post offices on accountable paper matters.

ac

(6) Establishes and maintains counting records for control of international money order services; provides information and reports to meet international money order service requirements (New York, Dallas, San Francisco).

(b) Data Services Branch. (1) Processes all documented input data for data systems not handled by other branches of the division. Generally, data are of an operational nature as opposed to a financial nature.

(2) Maintains liaison with regional offices and post offices in collaboration with the systems branch in the development and implementation of new programs as prescribed or authorized by the Department.

(3) Reviews and approves data services branch reports produced by data operations division before they are released to the consumer.

(4) Prepares special reports.

(c) Postal Accounts Branch. (1) Maintains general and subsidiary ledgers covering revenue, expenses, assets and liabilities.

(2) Provides regional controllers with current statements of financial, operating and statistical data.

(3) Examines postmasters' statements of account to assure conformity with

postal laws, policies, and regulations and Comptroller General decisions.

ac

(4) Establishes and maintains counting records for property control; interprets and monitors application of property accounting instructions; provides information and reports to meet property management requirements.

(5) Designates and revokes post offices as postal savings depositories, U.S. savings bond issuing agents and U.S. savings stamp offices; establishes and discontinues international money order business at post offices, after coordinating with applicable local services division.

(6) Maintains a system of cost accounts and prepares cost and statistical reports on motor vehicle operations.

(7) Reviews and approves postal accounts branch reports produced by data operations division before they are released to the consumer.

(8) Reviews the accounts receivable program to determine that instructions are being followed in collection attempts and recommends to the Director, Postal Data Center, that uncollectible debts be declared "uncollectible."

(d) Accounts Payable Branch. (1) Examines and settles claims for payment of items such as indemnity, cases of incompetent and deceased postal savings depositors, unpaid compensation for deceased postmasters or other employees and adjudicates physical losses of small tort claims.

(2) Examines and settles claims for payment to railroads, airlines, contractors of vehicles, star route contractors, mail messengers and contractors at stations and branches.

(3) Examines and settles accounts for rents, leases, utilities, communication, supplies and equipment and travel vouchers for postal employees.

(4) Serves as authorized certifying officer.

(5) Reviews and approves accounts payable branch reports produced by data operations division before they are released to the consumer.

(e) Personnel and Performance Branch. (1) Maintains personnel pay records.

(2) Verifies payments for personal services and related expenses.

(3) Maintains individual and consolidated personnel pay and accounting control records for travel costs, vehicle allowance, retirement, tax, bond deductions, service leave, and performance reports and records.

(4) Certifies as proper for payment all payrolls for the regions served.

(5) Establishes and maintains retirement accounts for all personnel in the regions served and answers inquiries; processes applications for service credits; and certifies records to the Civil Service Commission in separation cases.

(6) Processes input data related to work performance applications as well as personnel data applications.

(7) Reviews and approves personnel and performance branch reports produced by data operations division before they are released to the consumer. § 824.4 Systems and planning.

(a) Systems and Planning Division. Under technical guidance received from the Bureau of Finance and Administration directs the development, coordination and implementation of national integrated systems, plans and production schedules for the postal data center and participates in and performs data systems studies; keeps the Director, Postal Data Center informed of production against schedules and system activities of the division. Systems and planning division director acts for the Director, Postal Data Center in his absences.

(b) Systems Branch. (1) Develops and coordinates systems and procedures for internal operations of the postal data center.

(2) Participates in and performs data systems studies.

(3) Develops and provides detail specifications and analysis of problems and system components for preparation and programing data onto the computer.

(4) Prepares machines flow procedures and programs for processing data onto the computer.

(5) Maintains a system and programing surveillances over the effectiveness of the system processes of the PDC and recommends improvements.

(6) Provides consulting services to customers on source collection and preparation of data for movement to the postal data center.

(7) Maintains liaison with industry, educational institutions and other government agencies to keep the postal data center abreast with advancing management sciences in the integration of systems, techniques and equipment for collecting, verifying and processing business data.

(8) Prepares replies to employee suggestions pertaining to the work of the postal data center where such suggestions have originated in regions or installations served by the postal data center. Refers suggestions worthy of adoption to Bureau of Finance and Administration with detailed recommendations as to how suggestions may be implemented.

(c) Production Scheduling Branch. (1) Develops, coordinates and administers production schedules for the PDC.

(2) Develops and coordinates systems and production plans for new data activities to be performed by the postal data center.

(3) Develops and coordinates schedules for new system applications at PDC. § 824.5 Data operations.

(a) Data Operations Division. Operates the postal data center's automatic data processing facility and its associated equipment.

(b) Data Preparation Branch. (1) Maintains custody of magnetic tape reels, computer program documentation and input/output punch cards.

(2) Performs all key punch operations. (c) Computer Operations Branch. (1) When authorized, operates punched paper tape and communications terminal equipment.

(2) Operates electronic and electromechanical data processing equipment.

Sec.

951.7 Notice of disbarment; exclusion from

practice.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 951 issued under 5 U.S.C. 301, 39 U.S.C. 501.

SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 951 appear at 26 F.R. 12776, Dec. 30, 1961; 26 F.R. 405, Jan. 13, 1962, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 16270, Dec. 20, 1966. § 951.1 Authority for rules.

The Judicial Officer promulgates these rules pursuant to authority delegated by the Postmaster General.

§ 951.2 Eligibility to practice.

(a) Any individual who is a party to any proceeding before the Judicial Officer, the Board of Contract Appeals or a hearing examiner may appear for himself or by an attorney at law.

(b) The head of any bureau or office may establish such special rules and regulations pertaining to eligibility to practice before such bureau or office as he may deem to be necessary or desirable.

(c) Generally, except as provided in § 951.3, any attorney at law who is a member in good standing of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States or of the highest court of any State, District, Territory, Protectorate or Possession of the United States, or of the District of Columbia, and is not under any order of any court or executive department of one of the foregoing governmental entities suspending, enjoining, restraining, disbarring, or otherwise restricting him in the practice of law may represent others before the Post Office Department.

(d) When any person acting in a representative capacity appears in person or signs a paper in practice before the Post Office Department his personal appearance or signature shall constitute a representation to the Post Office Department that under the provisions of this part and the law he is authorized and qualified to represent the particular party in whose behalf he acts. The Post Office Department does not generally take formal action or issue any certificate to show that an individual is eligible to practice before the Department. (But see § 951.4.)

§ 951.3 Persons ineligible for admission to practice.

(a) No person disbarred from practice in this Department or in any other executive department of any of the govern

mental entities mentioned in § 951.2(c) will be eligible to practice before the Post Office Department until said order of disbarment shall have been revoked.

(b) Any person who, subsequently to being admitted to practice before the Post Office Department, is disbarred by any governmental entity mentioned in § 951.2(c) shall be deemed suspended from practice in this Department during the pendency of said order of disbarment.

(c) No person who has been an attorney, officer, clerk, or employee in this Department will be recognized as attorney for prosecuting before this Department or any office thereof any case or matter which he was in anywise connected while he was such attorney, officer, clerk, or employee.

(d) No person coming within the prohibitions of 5 U.S.C. 99, 18 U.S.C. 281, or 18 U.S.C. 283, will be recognized as attorney before this Department or any office thereof.

§ 951.4

Authorization of appearance may be required.

The Judicial Officer, the head of any bureau or office or any hearing examiner may require any person to present satisfactory evidence of his authority to represent the person for whom he appears. § 951.5 Complaint of misconduct.

(a) If the head of any bureau or office of the Department has reason to believe, or if complaint be made to him, that any person is guilty of conduct subjecting him to suspension or disbarment, the head of such office shall report the same to the Judicial Officer.

(b) Whenever any person submits to the Judicial Officer a complaint against any person who has practiced, is practicing or holding himself out as entitled to practice before the Post Office Department, the Judicial Officer may refer such complaint to the Chief Inspector for a complete investigation and report.

(c) At any time, the Judicial Officer may refer the complaint to the General Counsel for the preparation of formal charges to be lodged against and served upon the person against whom the complaint has been made.

§ 951.6 Censure, suspension or disbarment; grounds.

(a) The Judicial Officer may censure, suspend or disbar any person against whom a complaint has been made and

upon whom charges have been served as provided in § 951.5 if he finds that such person:

(1) Does not possess the qualifications required by § 951.2;

(2) Has failed to conform to standards of ethical conduct required of practitioners at the Bar of any court of which he is a member;

(3) Represents, as an associate, an attorney who, known to him, solicits practice by means of runners or other unethical methods;

(4) By use of his name, personal appearance, or any device, aids or abets an attorney to practice during the period of his suspension or disbarment, such suspension or disbarment being known to him;

(5) Displays towards the Judicial Officer, Board of Contract Appeals or any hearing examiner assigned to the Department, conduct which, if displayed toward any court of any State, the United States, any of its Territories or the District of Columbia, would be cause for censure, suspension or disbarment;

or

(6) Is otherwise guilty of misconduct or lacking in character or professional integrity.

(b) Before any person shall be censured, suspended or disbarred, he shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the Judicial Officer on the charges made against him. The General Counsel or his designee shall prosecute such

cases.

(c) In the event the Judicial Officer is unavailable for any reason, cases relating to the censure, suspension or disbarment of attorneys will be governed as herein provided, except that the hearing will be conducted by a hearing examiner appointed pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act or by some other disinterested member of the headquarters staff of the Post Office Department who shall be appointed by the Deputy Postmaster General.

§ 951.7 Notice of disbarment; exclusion from practice.

Upon the disbarment of any person, notice thereof will be given to the heads of the bureaus and offices of this Department and to the other Executive Departments, and thereafter, until otherwise ordered, such disbarred persons will not be entitled to practice be

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 952 issued under 5 U.S.C. 301, 39 U.S.C. 501.

SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 952 appear at 26 F.R. 12771, Dec. 30, 1961, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 16270, Dec. 20, 1966.

§ 952.1 Authority for rules.

These rules of practice are issued by the Judicial Officer of the Post Office Department (See § 952.26) pursuant to authority delegated by the Postmaster General.

§ 952.2 Scope of rules.

These rules of practice shall be applicable in all formal proceedings before the Post Office Department initiated under or pertaining to 39 U.S.C. 4003, 4005, and 4006, including such cases instituted