tractural requirements, preliminary, intermediate, and final working drawings prepared by bidders, lessors, and architects, including submissions by General Services Administration.

(8) Furnishes technical assistance in the evaluation and selection of architectural and engineering firms; makes recommendations to the Director, Construction Engineering.

(9) Reviews and evaluates regional engineering proposals for extension, remodeling, and modernization of buildings under GSA control; prepares plans and requirements for such work for accomplishment by the General Services Administration. Reviews for compliance and approves construction drawings prepared by the General Services Administration for improvement projects.

(10) Recommends to the Maintenance Division, Bureau of Facilities, technical criteria for vehicle maintenance facility planning; provides technical advice for typical and schematic plans; reviews proposals, specifications, and plans from the standpoint of technical requirements.

(c) Structural Branch. (1) Establishes structural standards, including design criteria for floor loads and column spacing to adequately support and provide flexibility for installing mail processing machinery and equipment.

(2) Reviews and approves for compliance with contractual requirements the structural design of preliminary, intermediate, and final working drawings and specifications prepared by bidders, lessors and architects to insure maximum stability and economy consistent with established construction practices.

(3) Provides structural consulting services to other bureaus of the Department and the regional offices.

(d) Specifications and Estimates Branch. (1) Prepares detailed estimates of cost for all types of building construction projects.

(2) Prepares building construction requirements for all types of postal facilities.

(3) Reviews for compliance and recommends approval of construction specifications submitted by architectural engineering firms and GSA.

(4) Prepares construction specifications for standard details.

(5) Prepares construction specification guides and instructions for use of contract architect-engineer firms and regional offices, and for inclusion in technical manuals.

(6) Maintains liaison with material manufacturers in order to update specifications and to keep abreast of the latest techniques and developments in materials used by the building industry.

(7) Provides consulting services to other bureaus of the Department, the regional offices and GSA.

(iii) Utilities Division-(a) Division. Performs all functions concerned with the program planning and design of mechanical and electrical utilities building equipment and space conditioning systems, and communications equipment for all space occupied by the Post Office Department in new or existing facilities.

(b) Electrical Branch. (1) Investigates the availability and applicability of new and/or improved power and lighting systems.

(2) Develops standards and criteria, engineering instructions, and manuals governing the design of electrical systems.

(3) Designs the electrical distribution system most suitable for each major facility, establishing the most economical service consistent with postal requirements.

(4) Investigates available power supply and energy rates for each major facility project, selecting the most reliable and economic service.

(5) Prepares specific requirements and specifications to cover all special electrical needs of individual facilities.

(6) Reviews and approves electrical portion of architect-engineer (A-E) submissions.

(7) Provides consulting service and technical guidance to other bureaus, the regional offices, and GSA.

(8) Arranges for development and procurement of operating instructions and training guides that pertain to power and lighting systems.

(9) Prepares communications layouts, including telephone, intercom and other equipment; prepares specifications for such equipment.

(c) Building Equipment Branch. (1) Investigates the availability and applicability of new and/or improved building mechanical systems, including communications, water distribution, compressed air, fire protection, security alarm and sewer systems, to provide the most economical and reliable service.

(2) Develops standards and criteria, engineering instructions and manuals governing the design of building equipment systems.

(3) Prepares specific requirements for all special building equipment system needs of each major facility; designs the systems and special equipment to meet the requirements.

(4) Reviews and approves the building equipment system portion of A-E submittals.

(5) Provides consulting service and technical guidance to other bureaus, the regional offices, and GSA.

(6) Arranges for development and procurement of operating instructions and training guides covering the building equipment systems.

(d) Space Conditioning Branch. (1) Investigates the availability and applicability of new and/or improved space conditioning systems such as heating, refrigerating, ventilating and air supply, and distribution systems and controls.

(2) Develops standards and criteria, engineering instructions, and manuals governing the design of space conditioning systems.

(3) Investigates available fuel and energy for every major project in order to select the most economical fuel or energy or combinations thereof.

(4) Designs the space conditioning systems most suitable for each major facility.

(5) Prepares specific requirements to all special space conditioning system needs of individual facilities.

(6) Reviews and approves the space conditioning system portion of A-E submissions.

(7) Provides consulting service and technical guidance to other bureaus, the regional offices, and GSA.

(8) Arranges for development and procurement of operating instructions and training guides covering the building equipment systems.

(iv) Process Machinery Division—(a) Division. Performs all functions concerning the development of plans and specifications for mail processing equipment, including systems analysis and layout, economic analysis, design of equipment and controls and preparation of all mechanical drawings and specifications. Evaluates systems concepts originated through research and development activities and incorporates them into process machinery systems and designs for individual facilities, wherever feasible.

(b) Systems Design Branch. (1) Reviews and adjusts space estimates to as

sure adequacy and suitability of space in proposed mail processing facilities, incorporating new methods, machinery, and equipment in accordance with operating concepts.

(2) Prescribes processing machinery and equipment needed for each major facility to provide maximum economies and efficiencies within the established operational concept.

(3) Develops comprehensive systems layouts for each new major postal facility to show relationships between the various mail processing functions.

(4) Develops and standardizes procedures and techniques to be used in preparing systems layouts, equipment lists and descriptions of operating sequences.

(5) Develops and prepares manuals which describe the operation of mechanized systems and arranges for their publication.

(6) Assists in the presentation of the proposed mail handling system to local, regional, and departmental groups.

(7) Provides technical representation for the Department on conferences pertaining directly to systems layout aspects of mail operations.

(c) Economic Analysis Branch. (1) Prepares engineering economic analyses of Systems Design Branch proposals, showing the comparative costs and savings between the various systems that could be used in a particular facility design.

(2) Develops a complete economic analysis of the recommended machinery and coordinates this with the economic analysis of the building design as developed by the Architectural Division.

(3) Maintains constant review of machinery criteria being developed in order to update its studies.

(4) Coordinates with other bureaus in matters relating to facilities cost analyses.

(d) Machine Design Branch. (1) Designs and prepares drawings for mail processing equipment that has been developed, tested, and proved, as a basis for procurement; prepares progressive modification drawings to incorporate latest advances and improvements in existing equipment.

(2) Designs and prepares drawings for processing machinery to meet operational and functional requirements.

(3) Prepares contract drawings and specifications for all types of processing machinery for new facilities; reviews

and approves contractors' bids and proposals; checks and approves contractors' engineering and shop drawings.

(4) Coordinates with architectural and utilities divisions the location and installation of processing machinery and equipment within a facility.

(5) Provides a Department-wide documentation and consultation service on equipment contractors' opinions and appeals from Post Office Department decisions.

(e) Machine Controls Branch. (1) Designs and prepares drawings and specifications for electrical controls required to operate mail processing equipment.

(2) Prepares progressive modification drawings to incorporate the latest improvements in existing equipment.

(3) Reviews and approves contractors' bids and proposals and checks and approves contractors' engineering and shop drawings for compliance with control requirements.

(4) Coordinates the location and installation of electrical controls to meet both operational and building design needs.

(6) Project Planning-(1) Assistant Director. Directs those phases of responsibility of the Director, Construction Engineering, that concern planning requirements, engineering liaison, and engineering evaluations of major facilities projects. Provides engineering guidance and liaison with regional engineering offices and local postal installations on matters relating to construction.

(ii) Planning Requirements Division. (a) Provides team members for participation in development of the distribution and operations concept.

(b) Provides engineering and related technical assistance and maintains continuing liaison in the conduct of surveys to determine space, platform, mechanization, equipment, and other requirements for a facility. Participates in studies of mail movements and handling as necessary to economically establish correct location of a new facility.

(c) Provides technical factors for consideration in projecting future requirements.

(d) Develops and coordinates with affected bureaus engineering policies and standards governing the determination of space requirements for postal facilities.

(e) Prepares flow charts, tables, and

narrative reports for use in designing facilities.

(iii) Installations, Liaison Division. (a) Represents the Bureau of Research and Engineering as a participating member of the Department's occupancy committee.

(b) Provides Headquarters engineering personnel to furnish technical assistance to local management with initial mail processing systems start-up; coordinates necessary training, guidance, and instruction on operation of building utilities, maintenance, and other engineering matters.

(c) Coordinates major facility startup operations with other Headquarters bureaus and offices, regional, and local offices.

(d) Provides local, regional, and departmental officials with updated construction and installation schedules and advises the respective officials of dates training and indoctrination should be completed.

(e) Provides liaison, technical guidance, and assistance to regional engineering offices as required in the construction program on regional delegated projects, during start-up and phasein periods.

(f) Coordinates communications, reports, and information between regional, local, and Headquarters engineering offices on projects in start-up phase of a new installation.

(g) Provides assistance to other construction engineering divisions in resolving and identifying special problem areas during final stages of mechanization installation.

(h) Provides periodic progress reports to the several management levels of the Bureau.

(iv) Engineering Evaluation Division. (a) Analyzes onsite installed mail processing systems and engineering aspects of major facility projects.

(b) Supervises and directs engineering related activities of those participating in post construction and installation evaluations.

(c) Develops comparison of actual performance with original concept and design, considering impact of interim changes.

(d) Prepares engineering evaluation reports covering onsite analyses and comparability studies and makes available to interested offices and bureaus as information for use in future planning,

improvements to specific facilities, and other programing purposes.

(e) Consults with local and regional personnel on performance of facility and equipment and advises appropriate headquarters offices of problem areas requiring immediate attention that may have arisen since completion of original installation.

(f) Coordinates and assists other offices and bureaus on special followup studies and postengineering evaluation action loans.

(g) Feeds back field evaluation findings and problem areas to construction engineering organization and to others as required.

(h) Provides engineering liaison and guidance to regional engineering office personnel on regional delegated projects or assignments.

(7) Project Construction-(1) Assistant Director. Directs those phases of responsibility of the Director, Construction Engineering, that are concerned with management, administration, and field supervision of the departmental construction program, encompassing all aspects of building construction and mail processing equipment installation.

(ii) Building Construction Division— (a) Division. Performs all functions concerned with management and field supervision of departmental building construction projects and General Services Administration projects involving

postal-occupied space.

(b) Structures Branch. (1) Supervises and inspects building construction projects, including those having contract supervision; performs interim and final acceptance inspections for contract compliance; recommends acceptance.

(2) Coordinates and provides guidance on GSA projects, including extension and remodeling of existing facilities.

(3) Prepares and maintains building construction schedules; coordinates scheduling with other bureaus and offices, lessors, contractors and GSA.

(4) Develops procedures, guidelines and criteria for performance of building construction management, including inspection and acceptance.

(5) Furnishes consulting services to contracting bureau and others and develops joint methods and procedures.

(6) Provides consulting services and guidance to regional offices on construction management matters.

(7) Coordinates supervision and in

spection with Utilities Installation Branch.

(c) Utilities Installation Branch. (1) Performs all supervision and inspections of utilities installations for contract compliance, including interim and final recommendations as an adjunct to total project acceptance. Inspections also cover utilities installations under contract supervision and encompass all utility factors such as air conditioning, heating, plumbing, electrical, and communications systems.

(2) Coordinates and provides guidance on GSA projects involving utilities installation.

(3) Coordinates utilities installation schedules with overall construction

schedule.

(4) Develops procedures, guidelines, and criteria for performance of utilities installation, inspection, and acceptance.

(5) Furnishes consulting services to contracting bureau and others and develops joint methods and procedures.

(6) Provides consulting services and guidance to regional offices on utilities installation matters.

(7) Coordinates supervision and inspection with Structures Branch.

(d) Estimates Branch. (1) Provides construction cost estimates for building construction division.

(2) Reviews, on comparative estimates basis, all contractor cost proposals involving construction and utilities changes; recommends appropriate action to contracting officer.

(3) Performs preliminary negotiations with contractors on cost differentials and assists in final negotiations.

(4) Provides guidance to contract architect-engineers in review of cost of estimates of proposed contractor substitutions and changes.

(5) Provides estimates of costs for proposed departmental construction changes.

(6) Certifies as to reasonableness of contractor cost proposals.

(7) Assists in determining contract compliance with drawing and specification requirements, and provides consulting services when formal claims are involved.

(iii) Process Machinery Installation Division-(a) Chief Division. Performs all functions concerned with the management, administration, and field supervision of process machinery installation in departmental building con

struction projects and in GSA projects involving postal-occupied space.

(b) Machinery Installation Branch. (1) Supervises and inspects the installation of mail process machinery in new and existing building construction projects, including buildings under GSA control; performs interim and final acceptance inspections for contract compliance; recommends acceptance.

(2) Establishes and maintains installation schedules; coordinates with building construction schedules, and with operating bureaus and offices.

(3) Reviews and certifies reasonableness of contractor requests for interim progress payments and final acceptance and contract closeout payments.

(4) Monitors field change orders within authorized monetary limitations.

(5) Develops procedures, guidelines, and criteria for performance of mechanization installations management including inspection and acceptance.

(6) Furnishes consulting services to contracting bureau and others and develops joint methods and procedures.

(7) Provides consulting services and guidance to regional offices on mechanization installation matters.

(8) Coordinates machinery supervision and inspection with controls installation branch.

(c) Controls Installation Branch. (1) Supervises and inspects for contract compliance the installation of electronic control systems for mail processing equipment including interim and final acceptance inspections of such installations as an adjunct to acceptance of the total process machinery installation.

(2) Supervises and inspects installation of data handling and mail processing equipment computers.

(3) Furnishes consulting services to contracting bureau and others and develops joint methods and procedures.

(4) Provides consulting services and guidance to regional offices on controls systems and installation matters.

(5) Coordinates supervision and inspection with machine installation branch.

(a) Administers the execution of policies, regulations, and procedures governing, and takes final action within his delegated authority on, matters relating to management, operations, transportation, finance, engineering, equipment, supply, facilities, and personnel within an assigned region (except the postal inspection service, internal auditors, the mail bag equipment shops, mail bag repair centers and depositories, area supply centers, postal agency, and stamped envelope agency, equipment production specialists, contract compliance under Executive Order 11246, and other specific matters reserved to the Postmaster General and to the bureaus and offices of the national headquarters).

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

(c) Directs the conduct of management and operating surveys in post offices.

(d) Provides guidance and specialized assistance to post offices on mail processing, mail movement methods, and other postal operations.

(e) Exercises direct supervision over all officers and employees within the regions, except as provided in (a).

(f) Is responsible for the annual appraisal of performance and final rating of postmasters at first-class offices.

(g) Serves as deputy equal employment opportunity officer under Executive Order 10925.

(h) May administer activities of certain individuals whose responsibilities extend into other regions. § 823.2

Deputy Regional Director.

(a) Assists the Regional Director in the overall management of the region. (b) Acts for the Regional Director in his absence and at his direction.

§ 823.3 Assistant to Regional Director. (a) Assists the Regional Director in liaison with the general public, principal