Bulk Mail Permit

OICF allows nonprofits serving Orcas to ‘borrow’ our USPS bulk mail permit. The post office asks that we work with organizations to help prepare the bulk mailing.

 

Please read below and contact OICF if you are interested in this opportunity.

1. Check with the Eastsound Post Office to determine if your nonprofit is a USPS “approved” nonprofit. If not, ask for the form to you need to become USPS “approved.” The PO will not accept your bulk mail if your nonprofit is not on their list.

2. Determine if you will send an all-island mailing, or if you will have specific addresses on your mail pieces. If it is an all-island mailing, use the USPS online tool to determine how many pieces you’ll need per zip code. If your mailing has addresses, make sure to include “Address Service Requested” in the proper place.

3. Ensure that your mailer has the OICF bulk mail permit number: 21. This permit number needs to be printed and formatted properly on your mailer.

When using a USPS bulk mail permit (also called a permit imprint indicia), the design and format must follow USPS guidelines to ensure compliance and efficient processing. 

General Guidelines for Permit Indicia

  • The permit imprint must be in the upper right corner of the mailpiece where a postage stamp would normally go.
  • It should be at least 0.5 inches from the edges of the mailpiece.
  • The indicia should be in a rectangular box and printed in uppercase letters.
  • It must contain the required elements in a legible font (sans-serif fonts are preferred). 

PRST STD U.S.

POSTAGE PAID

CITY, STATE

PERMIT NO. 21

Please reference the USPS site for further details and specifications.

4. Draft a sample of your mail piece and bring an example to the Eastsound Post Office to check that everything looks OK. 

5. Print your mailer and prepare the mailing.

6. Take (5) of pieces of your mailer to have it weighed at the Eastsound Post Office. Additionally, pick up enough bulk mail bins / tags at the Eastsound Post Office to organize your mailing by zip code.

7. Count out the number of mail pieces for each zip code:

  • Deer Harbor
  • Orcas
  • Olga PO Boxes
  • Olga delivery
  • Eastsound Rural Route 1
  • Eastsound Rural Route 2
  • Eastsound H001
  • Eastsound PO Boxes
  • non-Orcas mail

8. Then, send us an email with: 1) organization name, contact info 2) weight of your (5) pieces 3) number and type of bins 4) where your mailer will be sent (all island or not) and 5) if it is a letter or a flat mailer 6) total number of pieces to be mailed

9. Within 48 business hours, OICF will email you a form with a barcode. You will need to print this form, take it to the Eastsound Post Office with your mailer and form of payment. You will pay the Eastsound Post Office the cost of mailing your mailer. This total fee will be included on this form.

The PO receives bulk mailings before noon only, and you will need a check or debit card to pay for your mailing (they don’t take credit cards for bulk mailings). 

Please contact OICF with any questions: info@oicf.us