(ii) Signature of certifying officer written exactly as he will sign vouchers.

(iii) Class of vouchers to be certified. (iv) The official's signature and effective date.

(2) Other departments and offices. Other departments and offices requiring certifying officers will complete SF 210 in duplicate as prescribed in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, except for signature and date. Both copies will be sent to the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Finance.

(3) Submitting SF 210 to Postal Data Center disbursing officers. The Chief Inspector, the General Counsel, and the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Finance, or their designees shall send signed originals of SF 210 to each of the disbursing officers affected and retain duplicates. These documents will be the official designations of the employees named on the SF 210 as certifying officers.

(d) Maintaining designations. Each group, department and office must keep current its designation of authorized certifying officers. When new or additional designations are made, the procedures for designating certifying officers contained in this section shall be followed.

[38 FR 20404, July 31, 1973, as amended at 43 FR 29117, July 6, 1978]

§ 222.8 Authority to designate certifying officers-Field.

(a) Delegation. The following are authorized to designate certifying officers in Postal Data Centers and Inspection Service regions and divisions: (1) The Chief Inspector, for obligations of the Inspection Service.

(2) Postal Data Center Directors for obligations of all other regional functions.

(3) The New York Postal Data Center Director for obligations for Headquarters functions except those under § 222.7(a) (1) and (2) and those certified by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Finance, or his desig

nee.

(b) Redelegation. The officials named in paragraph (a) of this section are authorized to redelegate their authority to designate certifying officers. Redelegations shall be by letter to

each disbursing officer affected, with the specimen signature of the person to whom authority is redelegated.

(c) Designating certifying officers— (1) Regional Chief Inspectors and Inspectors-in-Charge. Regional Chief Inspectors and Inspectors-in-Charge are designated certifying officers, as limited by the Chief Inspector. They are authorized to designate certifying officers for obligations incurred by the Inspection Service. They will complete SF 210, Signature Card for Certifying Officer, in duplicate to show:

(i) Inspection Service region or division for which vouchers will be certified.

(ii) Signature of certifying officer written in the same manner that he will sign vouchers.

(iii) Class of vouchers to be certified. (iv) Signature of the designating official and effective date. Regional Chief Inspectors and Inspectors-inCharge are not authorized to redelegate their authority to designate authorized certifying officers.

(2) Postal Data Center Directors. Officers under direction of Postal Data Center Directors will complete SF 210 in duplicate as in paragraph (c)(1) of this section except for signature and date. Both copies will be sent to the appropriate Postal Data Center Director for completion.

(3) Submitting SF 210 to disbursing officer. The Regional Chief Inspector, Inspector-in-Charge, and Postal Data Center Director (or his designees) will send the originals of SF 210 to each disbursing officer affected and keep the duplicates. These will be the official designations of the employees named on the SF 210 as certifying officers.

(d) Maintaining designations. Each office under jurisdiction of the officials named in § 222.8 must keep current its designation of authorized certifying officers. When new additional designations are made, this § 222.8 shall be followed.

§ 222.9 Delegation of authority to the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Finance.

(a) Delegation. The Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Finance, may take final action in his own name on: (1) Claims for overpayment of pay. (2) Relief of accountable officers of liability for loss.

(3) Relief of accountable officers of liability for illegal, improper, or incorrect payments.

(4) Certifying officers' accountability.

(5) Deposit to and withdrawal from Postal Service fund.

(6) Collection of debts due the Postal Service with the exception of those falling under the jurisdiction of the Chief Postal Inspector.

(7) Adjustment of claims of postmasters and Armed Forces postal clerks, including the loss of funds or valuable papers from their official custody resulting from burglary, fire, or unavoidable casualty, with concurrence by the General Counsel is cases involving doubtful questions of law or fact.

(b) Redelegation. The Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Finance, is authorized to redelegate all or part of the authority vested in him by paragraph (a) of this section to such other officers or executives as he may deem appropriate.

[38 FR 20404, July 31, 1973, as amended at 43 FR 29117, July 6, 1978]

§ 222.10 Delegation of Authority to the Director, Office of International Postal Affairs.

The Director, Office of International Postal Affairs, is authorized to sign Express Mail agreements with foreign postal administrations, and to sign technical agreements for the exchange of postal personnel and property with foreign postal administrations.

[41 FR 52299, Nov. 29, 1976]

PART 223-RELATIONSHIPS AND CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION

Sec.

223.1 Relationships.

223.2 Channels of communication.

§ 223.1 Relationships.

(a) Between Headquarters, Postal Regions, and Postal Data Centers. Each Headquarters group, department, and office shall provide guidance and policy interpretation to regional officials in its area of responsibility, except that the Employee and Labor Relations Group provides policy direction to the Regional Directors for Employee and Labor Relations. The Finance Group shall provide guidance and policy interpretation to Postal Data Centers.

(b) Between Postal Region Offices and District Offices. The Regional Postmaster General shall provide guidance and direction to the respective District Managers within his region with the assistance of Regional Directors and their staffs in their areas of specialization.

(c) Between District Offices and Management Sectional Centers. The District Managers and staffs shall provide guidance and direction to their respective Sectional Center Managers for the guidance of Postmasters under their respective jurisdictions. The Sectional Center Managers will provide guidance and direction to their respective associate Postmasters.

(d) Between District Offices and Independent Associate Offices. District Managers and staffs shall provide guidance and direction to their respective Independent Associate Office

Postmasters.

(e) Between District Offices and Bulk Mail Centers. District Managers and staffs shall provide guidance and direction to their Bulk Mail Center Managers.

[39 U.S.C. 203, 204, 401(2), 402, 403. 404, as enacted by Pub. L. 91-375, 84 Stat. 719]

[38 FR 20406, July 31, 1973, as amended at 43 FR 29117, July 6, 1978]

§ 223.2 Channels of communication.

(a) Headquarters and Postal Region Offices. (1) The heads of groups, departments, and offices formulate the necessary directives to provide guidance to regional officials. Direction of regional officials is provided on employee and labor relations matters by

90-124 0-82--4

the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Employee and Labor Relations, and on other matters by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Operations.

(2) Policy directives shall be issued over the signatures of the heads of the groups, departments, and offices covering matters within their responsibility, except when the Postmaster General or Deputy Postmaster General may wish to issue such directives personally. Policy directives shall be coordinated with other appropriate groups, departments and offices before issuance and reviewed and disseminated by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Finance, and, if within the authority of the issuer, shall have the same effect as though sent by the Postmaster General or the Deputy Postmaster General.

(3) Guidelines and program implementation instructions and procedures not involving policy shall ordinarily be issued over the signature of the group, department, or office head having jurisdiction.

(4) Regional staff officials may communicate directly with the corresponding functional group, department, or office in Headquarters on matters within their area of jurisdiction. In addition, where authorized, they may also directly contact supporting Headquarters departments such as Law Department, Inspection Service Department, and Public and Employee Communications Department on technical matters not requiring administrative judgment of the Regional Postmaster General.

(b) Postal Region Offices and Postal Installations. The regular channels of communication are:

(1) Associate Office Postmasters, to and from Sectional Center Managers; (2) Sectional Center Managers, to and from District Managers;

(3) Postmasters of large independent associate offices, to and from District Managers;

(4) Bulk Mail Center Managers, to and from District Managers (except General Manager, New York International and Bulk Mail Center.);

(5) District Managers to and from their Regional Postmasters General;

(6) Heads of other Postal Installations, to and from their designated superiors as appropriate.

(c) Headquarters, Postal Region Offices, and other Postal Installations with Postal Data Centers. (1) The Finance Group provides the necessary directives to the Postal Data Centers. All other Headquarters communications to and from the Postal Data Centers shall be coordinated with the Finance Group. The Law Department and the Postal Data Centers shall maintain direct contact on matters relating to professional and policy guidance on claims.

(2) Postal Region Offices and Postal Data Centers may communicate directly with each other.

(3) Other Postal Installations and Postal Data Centers may communicate directly on routine accounting matters. All other communications shall be coordinated with the regional staff. (39 U.S.C. 203, 204, 401(2), 402, 403, 404, as enacted by Pub. L. 91-375, 84 Stat. 719)

[38 FR 20406, July 31, 1973, as amended at 43 FR 29117, July 6, 1978]

services, international postal affairs, and the judicial officer.

(b) The Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Administration, participates in the planning and budget process and reviews and evaluates the budget requests of each region for the areas of his responsibility.

(c) The Administration Group is divided into three departments, the Judicial Officer, and International Postal Affairs. The head of each reports to the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Administration. The components of the Administration Group are:

(1) Procurement and Supply Department. The Procurement and Supply Department is headed by the Assistant Postmaster General, Procurement and Supply. It exercises policy authority over procurement activities in general, including those areas which are common to both mail transportation, the real estate and buildings functions, and other types of procurement, but excluding those issues which by reason of law or custom are unique to mail transportation contracting, or the real estate and buildings function. It is responsible for the direction and review of all procurement activities in the field and at Headquarters except mail transportation contracting and the real estate and buildings function. It publishes and maintains a Postal Contracting Manual containing procurement regulations covering all procurement activities of the Postal Service. It manages the Postal Service's intellectual property. It manages Headquarters operating services, including printing, library, telephone switchboard, and Headquarters building maintenance and repair. It controls and administers supplies and inventories for the entire Postal Service.

(2) Real Estate and Buildings Department. The Real Estate and Buildings Department is headed by the Assistant Postmaster General, Real Estate and Buildings. It is responsible for acquisition, design, construction, modification, repair, improvement, and disposition of postal facilities and real estate. This includes:

(i) Formulating, administering, and reviewing policies, programs, and procedures for the design, acquisition, management, repair, upkeep, improve

ment, and disposal of real property used or to be used by the Postal Service, and of utilities and building equipment;

(ii) Exercising procurement authority of the Postal Service over real estate, real estate facility design, and construction services contracts, including repair and improvement;

(iii) Advising and assisting operating organizations and regions in establishing building project priorities based on financial and technical considerations;

(iv) Providing technical guidance during the phase-in of new facilities and mechanization, and conducting post-installation reviews to evaluate prior planning and plant and equipment design and arrangement;

(v) Providing for installation of conventional mechanization systems;

(vi) Developing procurement policies in those areas unique to real estate, architect-engineer, and construction contracting, including repair and improvement;

(vii) Designing and constructing facilities; designing and installing utilities; installing mechanization; taking energy conservation considerations into account;

(viii) Providing functional guidance to the regional Real Estate and Buildings Departments and Maintenance Management Divisions.

(ix) Acting as USPS coordinator with the Department of Energy and other governmental agencies on energy matters;

(x) Providing energy conservation policies for postal facilities.

(3) Customer Services Department. The Customer Services Department is headed by the Assistant Postmaster General, Customer Services. It is responsible for:

(i) Analysis, development, adjustment, and marketing of all postal products and services;

(ii) Establishment of policy for, and the functional management of, the Postal Service's sales operations and provision of functional guidance to the regional Customer Services Departments;

(iii) Management of the design, production, and distribution of postage stamps and postal stationery;

(iv) Representation of the interests of individual consumers, including responding to consumer needs and problems;

(v) Conduct of market research and diagnostic service analysis;

(vi) Liaison with postal customers, including the planning and implementation of the National Postal Forum; and

(vii) Development and execution of the Postal Service's advertising and promotion programs.

(4) Judicial Officer. (i) The Judicial Officer is an independent officer, located within the Administration Group, who performs quasijudicial and other functions. He administratively supervises Administrative Law Judges and hears appeals from their decisions. He serves with them on the Board of Contract Appeals, of which he is exofficio Chairman. As directed by the Judicial Officer, the Associate Judicial Officer assists in the administration of the office and normally is the Acting Judicial Officer when the Judicial Officer is absent or unable to serve. The Associate Judicial Officer is the ex officio Vice Chairman of the Board of Contract Appeals.

(ii) The Judicial Officer has authority to:

(A) Execute in his own name the final decision and order in proceedings authorized by section 1717 of title 18, and by sections 3001(a), 3003, 3004, 3005, and 3007 of title 39. U.S.C., appeals from administrative denial, suspension or revocation of second-class mail permits, administrative proposals to refuse to rent, to renew the rental of, or to close a post office box and other proceedings authorized by Postal Service regulations to be brought before the Administrative Law Judge or the Judicial Officer:

(B) Modify, suspend, or rescind any action heretofore taken (including any order issued) or which hereafter may be taken by the Judicial Officer pursuant to the powers, functions, authority, and duties vested in the Postmaster General and the Postal Service with respect to the matters covered by paragraph (c)(4)(ii)(A) of this section;

(C) Preside at the reception of evidence in proceedings where expedited hearings are requested by either party

or are provided in rules of practice, and issue a tentative or a final decision in such cases;

(D) Revise or amend the rules governing eligibility to practice before the Postal Service and to revise or amend the Postal Service rules of practice governing proceedings conducted under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapters 5 and 7) and in other proceedings in which the Judicial Officer is authorized to execute a final decision and order;

(E) Name and delegate authority to an Acting Judicial Officer;

(F) Exercise jurisdiction over the Administrative Law Judges for administrative purposes only, but not to direct or participate in the initial decision of Administrative Law Judges in any proceeding;

(G) Exercise such other authority as may be delegated to him.

(iii) Decisions and orders of the Judicial Officer made under the delegated authority shall be the final Postal Service decisions and orders except that the Judicial Officer may refer any proceeding to either the Postmaster General or the Deputy Postmaster General for final decision. The Judicial Officer does not determine the constitutionality of statutes nor the validity of Postal Service regulations. The Law Department and the Postal Inspection Service do not participate in or advise as to the decisions of the Judicial Officer in any proceeding.

(iv) Office of Administrative Law Judge: (A) Administrative Law Judges are appointed and qualified as prescribed by law. They preside at administrative hearings involving alleged violations of postal laws or conflicts arising over second-class mail permits and other proceedings as provided by Postal Service regulations.

(B) Initial decisions prepared by Administrative Law Judges become final Postal Service decisions unless an appeal is taken to the Judicial Officer. Administrative Law Judges do not determine the constitutionality of statutes nor the validity of Postal Service regulations.

(C) The Administrative Law Judges are under the jurisdiction of the Judicial Officer for administrative purposes only, in the same manner as are