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Supplying Principles and Practices > USPS Supplying Practices General Practices > Deviations
Deviations
Conformance with mandatory Supplying Practices promotes consistency and
integrity throughout the Postal Service supply chain. However, there are
circumstances when departures from the Supplying Practices are necessary
or desirable. Deviations may be authorized in such circumstances.
Contracting Officers will forward deviation requests through the appropriate
organizational channels to approval officials who keep copies of all deviation
approvals (portfolio managers are delegated authority to approve one time
deviations and may redelegate this one time approval authority to their direct
reports. The Vice President, Supply Management, may approve any request
for deviations regarding a single purchase or series of purchases.) Following
are some examples of deviations:
• Omitting or modifying a provision or clause required by a Practice
• Supplementing a provision or clause required by a Practice with
another provision or clause in a manner that modifies the
substance or intent of the original provision or clause
• Using a provision or clause that differs from the provision or
clause required by a Practice that is in regard to the same topic
and subject matter
• Failure to follow a practice that is mandatory within the context of
a given business situation
However, using provisions or clauses included in these practices to replace
selected text contained in Provisions 4-1, Standard Solicitation Provisions,
and 4-2, Evaluation, and Clause 4-1, General Terms and Conditions, does
not constitute a deviation and does not require authorization.
Following are some examples of situations that are not considered
deviations:
• Clauses written to meet the requirements of a specific purchasing
situation that is not outlined in the Practices
• Procedures or instructions that are developed to meet specific
operational needs with the approval of the Vice President, Supply
Management
• Interim procedures or instructions used to try or test out new
techniques and methods
• Interim procedures or instructions used to promote Postal Service
efficiency
Repeated deviations may indicate areas for improvement that require a
change. Changes are proposed to the Supply Chain Management Committee
(SCMC) following the procedures discussed in the Continuous Improvement
topic of the General Practices.
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