GSA's Federal Technology Service receives Mailing Excellence Award from National Postal Forum

GSA #9731

September 14, 2000
Contact: Bill Bearden (202) 501-1231
bill.bearden@gsa.gov

Washington, DC -- The U.S. General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service (FTS) was selected as the 2000 Government winner for the third annual Mailing Excellence Award, bestowed by the National Postal Forum (NPF), a not-for-profit educational corporation sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service.

This award honors outstanding performance and creativity in the field of direct mail. Winners are chosen in five possible categories, Business, Government, Nonprofit, eBusiness, and Multicultural. The award was presented yesterday in Anaheim, CA. Sandra Bates, Commissioner of FTS, accepted the award on behalf of FTS.

"We are honored to have received this esteemed one-of-a-kind award and will treasure it as a permanent symbol of achievement and excellence along with our partner, the U.S. Postal Service", said Commissioner Bates. "We at FTS have an ongoing commitment to deliver excellence to our customers and we are happy we are able to do that and look forward to continued partnership with the U.S. Postal Service."

This past year, FTS teamed with two of its industry partners, MCI WorldCom and US Sprint, to pilot a "Promotional Phone Card Pilot Program". The award recognizes a direct mail initiative by FTS, in partnership with USPS, to leverage one of its core telecommunications products (phone cards) for obtaining marketing research on customer satisfaction. The information gathered was used to build customer awareness, enhance customer loyalty, and generate additional sales.

NPF works as a partner with the USPS with the ultimate goal of a more efficient USPS that would thereby benefit the entire Postal customer universe. To accomplish this goal the NPF facilitates educational opportunities by bringing the USPS together with its customers, suppliers and business partners. The NPF and the Postal Service work closely together as partners to provide the most comprehensive and educational platform possible for meeting the needs of the mailing industry and postal customers.

FTS is equivalent to a Fortune 500 Company, employing over 1,300 employees nationwide and generating revenue in excess of $4 billion annually. FTS functions as a wholesale buyer and reseller of information technology and telecommunications services to the federal IT community. Using existing FTS contracts and other contractual vehicles, FTS offers a full range of IT and network products and services to other federal agencies. FTS also provides value-added contracting services and support, and is constantly adding new procurement vehicles, as technology and customer requirements change.