Assistant Postmaster General, Employee and Labor Relations, and with legal and regulatory requirements; directing the implementation and auditing of employee relations plans, policies, standards, and procedures within the region, acting through district offices in carrying out these responsibilities. It provides policy direction in employee relations matters throughout the region within the framework of policies determined at the Headquarters level; provides direction, advice, counsel, and assistance through district offices to all post offices and installations within the region for labor relations, manpower development, and employee services, including wage and salary administration, fringe benefits, personnel environment, personnel information, accident prevention, and health services; directs implementation of applicable executive orders pertaining to equal employment compliance within the region as prescribed by national policies; directs implementation of plans, policies, and procedures in district offices; maintains a system to assure compliance with the established Postal Service employee relations standards as applicable within the region; implements requirements for contract administration and grievance administration; and maintains effective communication with Postal Services employees in the region, through district offices, on all matters pertaining to employee relations.

(b) Within the Regional Employee and Labor Relations Department, there is an Office of Equal Employment Compliance which is headed by the Director of Equal Employment Compliance, who reports to the Assistant Regional Postmaster General, Employee and Labor Relations. In accordance with and subject to directives and assignments of the Assistant Regional Postmaster General, Employee and Labor Relations, it provides for and assures compliance with Executive Order 11478 as amended, relating to equal employment opportunity, and with the Federal program pursuant to Executive Order 11246, amended, relating to contract compli

ance.

(39 USC 201-204, 206, 401-404, 409)

as

§ 225.7 Regional Office of Communications.

The Regional Office of Communications is headed by the Director, Communications, who reports directly to the Re

gional Postmaster General. It is responsible for preparing and disseminating news and information materials; providing guidance to communications personnel throughout the region; and maintaining liaison with media representatives and other information outlets. In carrying out these responsibilities it manages the distribution of news and information materials; develops and distributes guides and directives for the preparation of news and information material; organizes and conducts communications training meetings (seminars, discussions, functional sessions) for regional staff and facility personnel; arranges visual aids and exhibit materials of an informational nature; prepares and distributes regional newsletters for external media representatives; contributes to internal employee newsletters; visits subordinate postal facility organizations to review and comment on local communications programs; prepares speeches for regional officials; maintains liaison with information outlets; responds to inquiries from media and civic representatives; and prepares budgets for personnel, materials, and travel expenses, as well as other costs concerned with communications.

§ 225.8 Regional Counsel.

(a) The Regional Counsel, who reports directly to the Regional Postmaster General, directs, under the professional guidance and supervision of the General Counsel, a staff of attorneys engaged in providing legal advice, opinions, services, and support for the Regional Postmaster General, other regional officers and executives, and postmasters within the region, in all areas except labor relations matters, and such other areas as may be specifically reserved by the General Counsel.

(b) The Regional Counsel. (1) Furnishes legal advice, opinions, and support to regional officials and postmasters, the Inspection Service, and Postal Data Centers in the application of Federal and State statutes or local ordinances insofar as they affect the Postal Service;

(2) Reviews and interprets contracts, other legal documents and instruments, and other undertakings which affect the Postal Service;

(3) Serves as a member of a regional contract negotiation team whenever the Contracting Officer feels the size and complexity of the procurement action warrants its use;

(4) Represents postal contracting officers in cases before the Board of Contract Appeals as may be directed by the General Counsel;

(5) Acts for the General Counsel in the review of tort claims by and against the Postal Service, and adjudicates such claims within limits set by the Regional Postmaster General and the General Counsel;

(6) Has authority to concur with the head of a procuring activity in his Region in determining appropriate action on protests against award of contract in accordance with the provisions of Postal Contracting Manual § 2-407.8 (c), as the same may be amended from time to time;

(7) As directed by the General Counsel, assists labor attorneys of the Postal Service in connection with labor disputes and related labor matters;

(8) Conducts administrative hearings pursuant to 39 CFR 916 and renders decisions following the conclusion of such hearings on alleged violations of the Anti-Pandering Law (39 U.S.C. 3008);

(9) Reviews requests for waiver of claims against postal employees based upon overcompensation;

(10) Reviews and recommends appropriate action to the Regional Postmaster General to sustain, modify, or reverse assessments against Postal Service employees for loss or damage of Government-owned or leased property as a result of gross carelessness or negligence of such employees in those cases where such action is within the authority of the Regional Postmaster General;

(11) Rules on delivery of disputed mail;

(12) Furnishes legal advice and opinions to the Regional Postmaster General relative to the Code of Ethical Conduct for Postal Employees (P.S. Publication 73) and assists in the administration of that code;

(13) Furnishes legal advice and opinions to regional officials in the application of statutes and regulations pertaining to the admissibility and classification of mail;

(14) Acts as agent for the receipt of legal process on behalf of the Regional Postmaster General and other regional headquarters officials resulting from the performance of their official functions;

(15) As directed by the General Counsel, provides legal services in connection with denials and revocations of

(a) Each District Manager reports to the Regional Postmaster General, and is responsible for managing and directing the activities of a functional staff and the managers of sectional center facilities in the implementation of Postal Service programs and policies, in order to assure effective and efficient mail processing and delivery operations within the district.

(b) Each of these officials:

(1) Provides policy and program direction for all support activities and operating facilities;

(2) Evaluates the operations of postal installations and modifies operational procedures if required;

(3) Directs the preparation of and administers the budget;

(4) Provides guidance for the preparation of operating plans and approves and implements these plans;

(5) Provides management control for retail sales and delivery programs;

(6) Provides direction and control for distribution activities;

(7) Provides policy guidance for capital requirements;

(8) Establishes transportation network requirements and coordinates with regional logistics personnel on transportation networks going beyond district boundaries; and

(9) Implements management development programs established by headquarters.

§ 225.10 Conversion of terms.

(a) In any regulation of the Postal Service outside Parts 211, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, and 235 of this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires, references to the:

(1) Regional Director shall be deemed to mean the Regional Postmaster General;

(2) Director, Personnel Division, shall be deemed to mean the Assistant Re

gional Postmaster General, Employee and Labor Relations;

(3) Director, Post Office and Delivery Services Division, shall be deemed to mean the Assistant Regional Postmaster General, Customer Services;

(4) Director, Finance Division, shall be deemed to mean the Assistant Regional Postmaster General, Support;

(5) Director, Facilities Division, shall be deemed to mean the Assistant Regional Postmaster General, Support, with regard to matters concerning procurement and supply; and Director, Facilities Division, shall be deemed to mean the Assistant Regional Postmaster General, Mail Processing, with regard to matters concerning engineering and real estate.

(6) Director, Logistics Division, shall be deemed to mean the Assistant Regional Postmaster General, Mail Processing;

(7) Director, Industrial Engineering Division, shall be deemed to mean the Assistant Regional Postmaster General, Mail Processing;

(8) Director, Marketing Division, shall be deemed to mean the Assistant Regional Postmaster General, Customer Services.

(b) The same conversion of terms applied in paragraph (a) of this section to officers and executives enumerated there shall apply to the groups or divisions which they head.

(c) Where the conversion rules stated in paragraph (a) of this section do not explicitly cover a particular officer, employee, or organizational unit, references shall be deemed to refer to the officer, employee, or organizational unit in the new organization performing functions most similar to those performed by the corresponding officer, employee, or organization unit in the old organization. (39 U.S.C. 201-204, 206, 401-404, 409)

ing and takes action within his delegated authority on matters relating to management and operation of the postal data center.

(b) Is responsible for efficient management, use, and control of manpower, allotted 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 insure 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 insure that effective services are provided and customer relations maintained.

(e) Under technical guidance of the Finance Group and subject to policies and standards established by the General Counsel:

(1) Adjudicates and settles personal or property damage claims less than $250;

(2) Adjusts and settles postmasters claims for losses for such amounts and types as redelegated to him;

(3) Makes determinations on behalf of the Postmaster General pursuant to section 3a of the Government Losses in Shipment Act.

§ 226.2 Disbursing Office.

Responsible for the control, signing, and disbursement of U.S. Treasury checks for all payments made by the data center. Receives and accounts for fund remittances and collections. Verifies deposits and acts as special agent for the Director, PDC for payroll savings bonds. Serves as liaison with regional distributing post offices on matters pertaining to accountable paper. Controls all other negotiable paper. § 226.3

Administrative Office.

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

§ 226.4 Processing and Control Division.

(a) 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 al

lowances, rents and leases, travel, etc. Audits financial accounts of all postmasters served by the postal data center to assure compliance with laws, regulations 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 finance division, new policy items of a controversial nature will be cleared through them.

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

(c) 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.

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

(e) Branches and their functions under this Division are:

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

(ii) Provides regional finance divisions with current statements of financial, operating, and statistical data.

(iii) Examines postmasters' statements of account to assure conformity with postal laws, policies, and regulations and Comptroller General decisions.

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

(v) Designates and revokes post offices as U.S. savings bond issuing agents; establishes and discontinues international money order business at post offices, after coordinating with applicable post office and delivery services division.

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

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

(viii) 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."

(2) Accounts Payable Branch. (i) Examines and settles claims for payment of items such as indemnity, unpaid compensation for deceased postmasters or other employees and adjudicates physical losses of small tort claims.

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

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

(iv) Serves as authorized certifying officer.

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

(3) Personnel and Performance Branch. (i) Maintains personnel pay records.

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

(iii) 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.

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

(v) Establishes and maintains retirement accounts for all personnel in the regions served and answers inquiries; processes applications for service credits; and certifies records in separation cases. (vi) Processes input data related to work performance applications as well as personnel data applications.

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

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. Branches and their functions under this division are:

(a) 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 surveillance 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 Finance Group with detailed recommendations as to how suggestions may be implemented.

(b) 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. § 226.6 Data Operations Division.

Operates the postal data center's automatic data processing facility and its associated equipment. Branches and their functions under this division are: (a) Data Preparation Branch. (1) Maintain custody of magnetic tape reels,

231.2 Security Control Officer.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 231 issued under 39 U.S.C. 401.

§ 231.1 Responsibility.

(a) The protection of mail, postal funds, and property is a responsibility of every postal employee.

(b) The Chief Postal Inspector is designated as the Security Officer for the U.S. Postal Service. That official is reponsible for the issuance of instructions and regulations pertaining to security requirements within the Postal Service. [36 F.R. 4762, Mar. 12, 1971]

§ 231.2 Security Control Officer.

The postmaster or a supervisor designated by the postmaster shall act as Security Control Officer for each post office. The Security Control Officer shall be responsible for the general security of the post office, its stations and branches, in accordance with rules and regulations issued by the Chief Postal Inspector. [36 F.R. 4762, Mar. 12, 1971]