NIH Parcel Ground Service

The NIH Parcel Ground Service is a nationwide, economical, guaranteed service which is available to any physical address (excluding Post Office Boxes) within the 48 contiguous (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) United States.

This "add-on" service guarantees door-to-door delivery to most U.S. cities in one to six days (depending on state) at significantly lower costs and improves transit time for parcels which could normally take up to 14 days for delivery. This service also allows customers to track parcels by telephone or using the Internet.

When parcels are received from clustered mail service locations, mail stops, and satellite mail rooms, meeting weight requirements (1 to 70 pounds), DMMS will perform a cost and transit time comparison between the USPS and other carriers to determine which carrier will be more cost effective and give NIH parcels better transit time. Customers can expect improved delivery time and reduction in mailing costs.

Procedures for Using Parcel Ground Service. No special requirements are needed, just prepare the parcel in accordance with addressing standards and place in the outgoing mail stream. Customers with parcels too large to fit into collection boxes should contact the Mail Customer Service Branch to schedule a pick up. Customers located near satellite mail rooms can always take packages there or call for assistance if the parcel is too large to carry.

Customers with high-volume mailings meeting weight requirements should contact the Mail Customer Service Branch at the beginning of the planning stage.

Contact the Mail Customer Service Branch for information on addressing, routing, and/or delivery of small parcels.