National Change of Address Linkage System (NCOALink) —An address correction service that the USPS provides to mailers through USPS licensees. The licensees match mailing lists submitted to them on tape or disk against change-of-address information for the entire country from all Computerized Forwarding System units. If a match is made, NCOALink can correct the address before it is printed on a mailpiece. Additional information and a list of Vendors and Licensees that have been certified through CASS and MASS address matching software is available online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Network Distribution Center (NDC) —A highly mechanized mail processing plant that distributes Standard Mail and Package Services in piece and bulk form. Also see auxiliary service facility (ASF).

 

Network Distribution Center (NDC) Presort Price —A price available for Parcel Select that is properly prepared and entered by the mailer at a NDC or other designated postal facility.

 

Non-Machinable —The inability of a mailpiece to be sorted on mail processing equipment because of size, shape, content, or address legibility. Such mail must be processed manually.

 

Non-Machinable Outside (NMO) —A parcel or mailpiece that, because of size, weight, or other characteristic, cannot be sorted by mechanized mail processing equipment and must be handled manually. The parcel is called an outside because it cannot be placed in a sack or other mailing container.

 

Non-Mailable Articles and Substances —Anything that, by statute, “may kill or injure another, or injure the mails or other property.” There are some exceptions to this rule that allow otherwise unmailable items to be mailed.

 

Nonprofit Price —A preferred price for a Periodicals publisher authorized to mail as a nonprofit organization.

 

Nonprofit Standard Mail —A subclass of Standard Mail that is available only to qualified organizations specified by U.S. statute.

 

Nonprofit Standard Mail Eligibility — Publication 417, discusses eligibility, authorization, and the rules for mailing at the Nonprofit Standard Mail prices. Many customers find it helpful to reference this publication to gain authorization and determine the eligibility of their mailpiece. Also see the Standard Mail Eligibility Decision Tree.

 

Not Flat-Machinable Pieces —A subclass of Standard Mail also known as “NFMs.” Most NFMs are rigid parcel-like pieces that cannot be processed on flat sorting equipment.