Contractor Security Clearances at Surface Transfer Centers

Our objective was to determine whether the Postal Service properly issued security clearances to contractor personnel at Surface Transfer Centers (STC). STCs are mail consolidation and re-distribution facilities that assist the Postal Service in maximizing the utilization of vehicles and their capacity to transport mail. The Postal Service operates 13 STCs, seven of which are managed solely by STC suppliers who, as of April 2021, employ over 1,000 contractor personnel. The contractor personnel are responsible for performing mail processing operations, with Postal Service personnel overseeing those operations for contract compliance. The Postal Service is obligated to maintain the security of the mail and preserve the public’s trust. The security clearance process is designed to prevent ineligible or unsuitable applicants from having access to the mail, Postal Service assets, and facilities.