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termination of a subcontract prior to its stated period on proper notification by either party to the subcontract.

(iii) By death of subcontractor. On the death of a subcontractor, the contractor, legal representative of the estate of a deceased contractor, or sureties in charge should immediately resume charge of the route. Postmasters should notify the director, transportation division, having supervision over the route, who will issue necessary instructions to all concerned.

(6) Contracting with subcontractors. When a contractor has sublet a route in accordance with law and does not indicate in writing to the Postmaster General at least 90 days before the end of the contract term that he desires to renew the contract, the director, transportation division, may enter into a contract on the same terms, without advertising the route for bids, wih a subcontractor who has performed satisfactory service on the route for a period of at least 6 months.

(b) Temporary service-(1) On new routes. (i) Contracts for temporary star route service may be made without formal advertisements for periods not to exceed 1 year.

(ii) No bond is required with a temporary contract. These contracts may run to the end of the fiscal year or not exceeding 1 full calendar year.

(iii) Contracts for temporary service provide for their termination on 15-days' notice by either party.

(iv) Before temporary service is authorized, bids are usually solicited by the director, transportation division. The lowest bid must be accepted unless there is sufficient reason for rejecting it.

(2) On regular routes. Temporary service may be provided under the following conditions:

(i) When a contractor fails to provide service, the director, transportation division, in charge of the service, or the postmaster at the head of the route, has authority to employ a carrier at the lowest obtainable rate.

(ii) The expense of temporary service is charged to the contractor.

(iii) Employment of temporary service is to be continued until regular service is resumed by or for the contractor or his sureties.

(iv) When temporary carriers have been employed by postmasters, full report of the circumstances must be made to the director, transportation division.

(v) When the employment of a temporary carrier is necessary on a regular route, payment to the regular contractor must be suspended until proper adjustments are made.

(vi) No payment will be made to a temporary carrier before the director, transportation division, has issued an order authorizing the payment.

(3) In lieu of train service. (i) Limited Interruption of Railroad Service. When temporary interruption of railroad service of a very limited nature is expected to last no more than a day or two, temporary service should be employed at the lowest obtainable rate. Bills shall be prepared on Form 2524, Bill for Temporary Service in Lieu of Railroad Service, and must be charged to the Railroad Transportation account.

(ii) Extended Interruption of Railroad Service. When an interruption of railroad service appears to be of an extended nature, such as a strike or damage to or destruction of rail facilities, temporary star route service should be employed. This service shall be certified to on Form 5429, Certification of Exceptional Contract Service Performed, appropriately marked to be charged to Temporary in Lieu of Rail account.

(4) Emergency temporary service. When an emergency makes it necessary to divert mail in transit, temporary service may be provided.

(5) On airmail routes. In the event of a major disaster, temporary service may be provided, without advertising, for the transportation of mail by aircraft to or from the affected localities.

(6) Death of a temporary contractor. When a contractor or carrier for a temporary route dies, it is necessary to enter into another temporary contract or employ another temporary carrier. New bids may be solicited by the director, transportation division.

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(1) Assign responsibility for preparation of Form 5398 to the tour supervisor or the postal employee responsible for supervision of the star route operations. This employee shall sign each form certifying its correctness.

(2) Enter outbound and inbound trips on separate forms, showing all scheduled trips and any extra trips performed. Separate forms shall be prepared by the supervisor of each tour.

(3) Report any detours, omitted service or extra trips to the administrative postmaster for the route if the installation preparing Form 5398 is not the administrative postmaster for the route. Use Form 5399 to make the report.

(b) At other installations. Postmasters and other installation heads designated by the director, transportation division, as recording offices for performance of star route service, and who are not specifically directed to use Form 5398, shall record daily on Form 5399, Record of Performance of Highway and Water Routes, the actual departure and arrival times and all irregularities. Entries on Form 5399 will not be made by star route contractors or their drivers.

(1) Recording Postmasters other than Administrative Postmasters. All designated recording offices, other than the administrative office, will submit the original of their Form 5399's to the administrative postmaster at the end of each accounting period and retain a copy of the form.

(2) Administrative Postmasters Recording on Form 5399. If other offices on the route have been designated to send their Form 5399's to the administrative postmaster, the administrative postmaster will review these forms for any information requiring attention and keep the forms with his Form 5399.

(3) Administrative Postmasters Recording on Form 5398. If other offices on a route have been designated to send Form 5399 to the administrative postmaster, the administrative postmaster will review Form 5399's received for any information requiring attention and file the forms with the Form 5398 prepared by his office.

(c) Form 5397, star route extra trip authorization. If the director, transportation division, must frequently authorize extra trips on a star route, he will furnish a supply of Form 5397 to the postmaster or other installation head responsible for reporting the extra trips, who will complete the form in accord

ance with instructions thereon. When an extra trip is authorized and performed, and the postmaster does not have a Form 5397, the transportation division will furnish the postmaster a Form 5397 with instructions as to how it should be completed.

(d) Form 5463, report of performance of highway mail transportation (unit rate contracts). Form 5463 will be used to record performance of service under unit rate contracts (piece rate, pound rate, trip rate, mileage rate, etc.). The logistics division will designate the postmasters and other installation heads who will record on Form 5463.

[33 F.R. 11061, Aug. 3, 1968, as amended at 34 F.R. 18938, Nov. 27, 1969]

§ 521.6 Certification of exceptional contract service performed.

The director, logistics division, will designate the postmasters and other installation heads who will certify exceptional contract service performed and will instruct these installation heads on the proper preparation of the certification forms.

[33 F.R. 11061, Aug. 3, 1968, as amended at 34 F.R. 18938, Nov. 27, 1969]

§ 521.7 Responsibilities and duties of

postmasters.

Postmasters at all other offices on a route shall report, by memorandum or, on Form 5177, Transit Mail Delay or MVS Platform Irregularity, irregularities, complaints, and any other local problems regarding operation of the route to the designated administrative postmaster, who shall:

(a) Give daily supervision to the contractor's operations to assure compliance with the contract.

(b) Investigate complaints regarding service on the route and take corrective action whenever possible.

(c) Investigate irregularities reported on Form 5177, or otherwise, and prepare Form 5500 if appropriate. (See § 521.4 (d) (2).)

(d) Prepare recommendations for establishment, discontinuance, or changes in existing routes on Form 5471, Recommendation for Star Route Changes, and forward to the director, logistics division.

(e) Make an annual inspection during September of box delivery routes. Report inspection on Form 5406, Box Deliver Star Route Inspection Report. Prepare in triplicate, send original to director, logistics division, one copy to

director, postal operations division, and keep a copy.

(f) Make inspection of non-box delivery star routes during the fall of the year prior to the renewal on July 1 of the following year. Report inspection on Form 5407, Survey of Star Route. Prepare in duplicate, and submit original to the director, logistics division, and retain the other copy.

(g) Submit report to the director, logistics division, when roads regularly traveled by carrier are changed or become permanently obstructed, necessitating use of other roads.

(h) Certify service performed at end of each accounting period in accordance with § 521.6.

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(i) Obtain prompt explanation from a carrier who failed to provide required service. Report any full or partial trips not performed due to fault or negligence of the contractor, showing miles of service omitted and reason for omissions (see § 521.4(d) (4)).

(j) Maintain a current record of all outstanding keys issued to star route contractors or carriers for use in exchanging mail through lobbies or lockers of post offices. (See § 521.2(a) (2).)

[33 F.R. 11061, Aug. 3, 1968, as amended at 34 F.R. 18938, Nov. 27, 1969]

§ 521.8 Screening contractors, subcontractors, and certain employees.

(a) Who must be screened. Each contractor, subcontractor, or person employed by a contractor or subcontractor, to handle mail or drive mail vehicle, except those enumerated in paragraph (b) of this section, must complete Form 2025, Contract Personnel Questionnaire, and have this fingerprints taken on Form FD258 (Fingerprint Chart), within 10 days after beginning service. The 10-day limit may be extended by the director, logistics division, in unusual circumstance.

(b) Those exempted from screening. The following are exempted from completing screening forms:

(1) Certificated interstate common carriers and their employees, if the director, logistics division and the postal inspector in charge approve the contractor's own security screening procedures.

(2) Civil service personnel otherwise subject to investigation under Executive Order 10450.

(3) Persons who have been screened previously for another route. (See paragraph (f) of this section.)

(4) Employees hired for an emergency

of only a few days. This does not exempt regular, relief or substitute employees.

(c) When a new contract is awarded or subcontract recognized, the administrative postmaster of the route will ascertain whether or not the contractor, subcontractor or their employees need to be screened according to the requirement of paragraph (a) of this section. If the contractor, subcontractor or their employees must be screened, the administrative postmaster will forward to the contractor or subcontractor sufficient copies of Form 2025 and FD-258 for the screening and will see that the forms are properly completed. Form 2025 shall be prepared in duplicate.

(d) The administrative

postmaster

will maintain a list of contractors, subcontractors and employees who have been screened. A copy of the list will be furnished to the dock supervisor who will consult the list before mail is turned over to an unknown driver. If the driver's name does not appear on the list, the dock supervisor will check with the contractor to see if the driver is authorized to receive the mail and report the name of the new driver to the postmaster. The postmaster will send screening forms to the contractor or subcontractor.

(e) Postal data center will send each contractor and subcontractor Form 5415, Post Office Department Screening Program, with their last check for Postal Quarters 1 and 3 reminding them of their responsibility for reporting changes in employees to the administrative postmaster. This official will see that reports are received on all routes for which he is administratively responsible and that new employees are screened by following procedures in paragraph (c) of this section.

(f) If the administrative postmaster does not receive cooperation from a contractor or subcontractor in completing the screening forms, he will submit the case to the highway transportation branch for advice. Include with the report name and address of the contractor, subcontractor, and their employees, with copies of all correspondence in the case. If a person claims that he has been screened on another route (as outlined in paragraph (b)(3) of this section) the administrative postmaster will submit the case to the highway transportation branch.

(g) When forms are returned to the administrative postmaster, he will act as follows:

(1) Upon receipt of completed forms, the administrative postmaster will insert name of the region on Form 2025 and review forms to assure that every item on both forms is complete and legible and that fingerprints appear to be sufficiently clear for classification. Return unsatisfactory forms for correction.

(2) When forms are in order, the administrative postmaster will send original Form 2025, stapled to Form FD-258 to the Personnel Security Officer, Bureau of Chief Postal Inspector, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C. 20260. The copy of Form 2025 will be filed alphabetically by name in a locked cabinet. The forms will be retained for 1 year after the contractor, subcontractor, or employee is separated for any reason.

(h) When no derogatory information is developed or when only minor traffic offenses are involved, forms will be returned without comment to the director, logistics division, by the Personnel Security Officer. The remainder will be reviewed by the Director, Traffic Management Division, and returned to the director, logistics division, with instructions to retain or remove. The original of Form 2025 and Form FD-258 will be filed in the office of the postmaster at the city where the director, logistics division is located.

(i) Removals. Contractors, subcontractors, or their employees, handling mail or driving mail vehicle, may with Departmental approval, be removed if the screening process shows they have been convicted of a crime such as embezzlement, robbery, burglary, larceny, perversion, or other notoriously immoral acts; have associated with known criminals; or have a record of serious moving traffic violation, unless they have since been rehabilitated and have become responsible citizens.

[33 F.R. 11061, Aug. 3, 1968, as amended at 34 F.R. 18938, Nov. 27, 1969]

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Mail messenger service is a local mail transportation service performed by mail messengers designated by the Department to collect, transport, and transfer mail between post offices, stations, and branches and railroad terminals, steamboats, highway post offices, star routes, truck terminals, airport mail facilities, and stop points in the same or adjacent communities, including collection of mail from collection boxes when so directed by the director, transportation division. It may be used for occasional unscheduled trips of intercity mail or mail equipment transportation over longer distances. When service is principally for scheduled intercity transportation, use star route service. When local service is so extensive that a performance bond is needed to protect the Government's interest, use contract motor vehicle service. Mail messenger service will not be authorized to transport mail consigned between an airport and a post office at which there is Government-owned vehicle service operated by motor vehicle operators when the distance is not more than 35 miles, if it is possible to transport the mail by Government-owned motor vehicles.

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(a) Authorizing service. (1) When an immediate need for service develops, the postmaster shall apply to the director, transportation division, for authority to employ a temporary messenger. Application must show the necessity for service and the lowest rate obtainable.

(2) If the director, transportation division, determines that temporary service is justified, he will authorize the postmaster to employ a temporary messenger. No service shall be put into effect until authorized by the director, transportation division.

(3) When the need for service is not immediate it is usually desirable for the director, transportation division, to advertise for regular service. He may advertise temporary routes for regular service at any time he considers it desirable.

(4) The postmaster shall furnish the director, transportation division, a detailed description of the service required showing for each one-way trip, the origin, loading time, leaving time, aver

age number of pieces handled, distance, destination, arriving time, unloading time, train or trip number connected (if any), and average waiting time (if any) for late train or other carrier.

(5) The director, transportation division, shall require postmasters at fourthclass offices to transport mail between the post office and railroad station or other exchange points without additional pay provided:

(i) The exchange point is within onefourth of a mile of the post office.

(ii) No motor or horse-drawn vehicle is required.

(iii) Transporting the mail will not cause an unreasonable hardship on the postmaster.

(6) When mail messenger service cannot be obtained at a reasonable rate, the Regional Director may authorize postmasters to assign postal employees to transfer mail between the post office and exchange points as a part of their regular duties.

(7) If a truck is needed to perform the service, the director, transportation division, shall require the messenger to provide one with fully enclosed body, waterproof, equipped with secure locking devices, such as key or combination locks, and it must be kept locked enroute between exchange points.

(b) Advertising for service. (1) When a regular designation is necessary, the director, transportation division, will prepare advertisements and forward them to the postmaster at the post office where service is needed. Advertisements will allow at least 10 days' posting from date of receipt until closing date for bids.

(2) Postmasters shall post advertisements in the most conspicuous place in the post office lobby and other points where they can be seen by persons most likely to place bids. He must give the widest publicity possible to all advertisements, without expense to the Postal Service.

(c) Requirements for bidders-(1) Age. Mail messengers must not be under 18 years of age.

(2) Residence. A bidder must either reside on or adjoining the route on which service is to be performed, or file with his bid an agreement that, if designated as mail messenger, he will reside on or adjoining the route.

(3) Reliability. Postmasters and director, transportation division, shall disapprove bidders who:

(i) Are known to have been convicted

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1 Includes routes originally paying less than $900 increased to over $900.

(ii) Any employee is ineligible if his interest in mail messenger service interferes with his postal duties. Before accepting an employee's proposal or permitting his employment under a mail messenger designation, the director, transportation division, must get a statement from the postmaster that the employee's interest in mail messenger service will not interfere with his postal duties.

(iii) Any employee or any member of his immediate family is ineligible if the employee has access to mail messenger files during the period when bids are being received.

(d) Bid procedures-(1) Submitting. Advertisements specify that bids will be

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