NOTE: COMMENTS REGARDING ANY FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE MUST BE SENT TO THE ADDRESS INDICATED IN THE DOCUMENT. ANY COMMENTS ON THE RAPID INFORMATION BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEM (RIBBS) ABOUT ANY FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES WILL NOT BE USED OR CONSIDERED IN THE COURSE OF ANY RULE MAKING. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- =============================================================================== POSTAL SERVICE Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program AGENCY: Postal Service. ACTION: Notice of computer matching program. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This document publishes notice that the Postal Service intends to conduct an internal computer matching program that compares its records about postal employees with records about vendors. The objective of this matching program is to identify instances where employees have attempted to corrupt the postal procurement process and defraud the Postal Service. This notice meets the requirements of subsection (e)(12) of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a, as amended by Pub. L. 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988) that agencies publish notice of new matching programs. DATES: Any interested party may submit written comments on this proposed matching program. The matching program will begin no sooner than April 22, 1996. ADDRESSES: Written comments on this proposal should be mailed or delivered to Payroll Accounting/Records, United States Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 8650, Washington, DC 20260-5243. Copies of all written comments will be available at the above address for public inspection and photocopying between 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betty E. Sheriff, (202) 268-2608. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Subsection (e)(12) of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-503), requires agencies to publish notice of the establishment or revision of a computer matching program. Subsection (o) requires agencies to conclude a computer matching agreement containing the terms under which the new or revised matching program will be conducted. This document publishes notice of a matching program for which an agreement has been concluded. The Postal Service will conduct an internal agency match that compares records from a Privacy Act system of records and a grouping of records that is not subject to the Privacy Act. Under those circumstances, the match does not constitute a matching program subject to the computer matching provisions of the Privacy Act. Nevertheless, the Postal Service is conducting the matching program under those provisions because of potentially adverse consequences to some postal employees. This new computer matching program identifies postal employees who have improperly exercised their influence to direct postal contract awards or other purchases to companies owned and operated by themselves, family members, or others. In addition, this matching program identifies any employees who are involved in financial conflict of interest, fraud, misrepresentation, or other situations in violation of Postal Service standards of conduct. Where records match, limited information is provided from employee and vendor records to the Postal Inspection Service, which then conducts an examination to determine any impropriety. A previous computer matching program, conducted for the same purpose, resulted in refinement of the matching and tracking process and the detection of contracts awarded in conflict with postal policy. Set forth below is the notice of the establishment of a computer matching program. Notice of an Internal Computer Matching Program--United States Postal Service (Internal Agency Match of Payroll File With Vendor File) A. Participating Agencies: The United States Postal Service is the only participant in this computer matching program, which compares two internal records files. B. Purpose of the Match: This computer matching program identifies postal employees who have improperly exercised their influence to direct postal contract awards or other purchases to companies owned and operated by [[Page 9737]] themselves, family members or others. The matching program identifies employees who are involved in financial conflict of interest, fraud, misrepresentation, or other situations in violation of Postal Service standards of conduct. C. Authority for Conducting the Match: Sections 401 and 404 of title 39, United States Code, grant the Postal Inspection Service the power to conduct civil and criminal investigations of violations of postal laws, including attempts to corrupt the postal procurement process and defraud the Postal Service. This computer matching program is also consistent with the Inspection Service's Inspector General authority to address fraud, waste, and abuse in the agency. D. Records to be Matched: This computer matching program involves one Privacy Act system of records, ``USPS 050.020, Finance Records-- Payroll System,'' which was most recently published in its entirety in the Federal Register on December 4, 1992 (57 FR 57517-57518) and amended in the Federal Register on November 22, 1993 (58 FR 61718- 61719). That system contains Postal Service employee data that are compared with data in the Postal Service's vendor payment files (these files relate to businesses and, therefore, are not covered by the Privacy Act). Matches are made on the basis of like expanded ZIP Codes. For each hit (matched 9-digit ZIP Codes), the employee's name, address, social security number, occupation, and pay location are extracted from the payroll file; the vendor's name, address, vendor number, account number, finance number, year-to-date amount paid, and most recent payment date are extracted from the vendor file. E. Description of Computer Matching Program: A match of nine-digit ZIP Codes indicates whether the employee's home address and the vendor's address are the same physical geographical location. No adverse action is taken based solely on such a match; the match merely indicates a need for further review to determine whether investigation is warranted. Review includes an identification of the transaction and examination of procurement files, employee records, and/or information from other sources from which verification of identity and compliance with postal procurement policy can be made. Where review indicates potential misconduct, case files may be established within the parameters of USPS 080.010, Inspection Requirements--Investigative File System (last published in its entirety in the Federal Register on March 20, 1991 (56 FR 11798-11805)). Where it is established that misconduct is present, administrative disciplinary action and/or prosecution may be initiated. However, no such action may be taken until the individual has received notice of adverse findings and has been given an opportunity to contest them, as required by Pub. L. 100-503. Stanley F. Mires, Chief Counsel, Legislative. [FR Doc. 96-5585 Filed 3-8-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7710-12-P