What is it?

The Division of Mail Management Services (DMMS), through an agreement with UPS, offers our NIH ICs a nationwide, economical, date-certain, guaranteed parcel ground delivery service. The parcel ground service is available for delivery to any physical address (not P.O. Boxes) within the 48 contiguous United States, at a significant cost savings.

In addition to guaranteeing delivery from 1 to 6 days, depending on delivery zone, this service also allows customers to track parcels by telephone or online. All ground service parcels are automatically insured for value up to $100.

When parcels meeting weight requirements up to 70 pounds are received, DMMS will perform a cost and transit time comparison between the USPS and the parcel ground service to determine which carrier will be the most cost effective and provide the least transit time for NIH parcels. Customers may also request their parcels be dispatched via the parcel ground service. 

Procedures for Using Parcel Ground Service 

No special requirements are needed. Prepare the parcel in accordance with USPS addressing standards and place in the NIH outgoing mail stream. Customers with parcels too large to fit into collection boxes should contact the Mail Customer Service Branch at 301-496-3586 to schedule a pick-up. Customers located near DMMS satellite mail facilities may always take packages there or call for assistance if the parcel is too large to carry.

Customers with high-volume mailings that meet weight requirements should contact the Mail Customer Service Branch early in the planning stage. 

More information on the parcel ground service and other subjects regarding mail can be found in our online Mail Services Guide:  http://www.ors.od.nih.gov/pes/dmms/Documents/MailServicesGuide.pdf