WASHINGTON /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Postmaster General John
 E. Potter recognized ten companies for their quality products and
 excellent customer service in supplying the United States Postal Service
 with the equipment, materials, and services it needs to deliver superior
 products and service to the American public. The 2006 Supplier Performance
 Awards ceremony was held at Postal Service headquarters.
  
 The relationships with our suppliers are among the most important ones
 we have," said Potter. "We're using the latest and most innovative technology to simplify,
 streamline, and improve processes, from top to bottom," Potter added. "And
 every one of those processes is dependent on the products and services that
 each of our more than 25,000 suppliers supply us. Their contribution helps
 us to make a real difference for the nation we serve."
  
 On hand to present the awards was Vice President, Supply Management,
 Susan Brownell. "The ability of suppliers to deliver quality goods and
 services on time, while continuously seeking innovative ways to improve
 their performance, is critical to our success," she said. "While many of
 our suppliers have contributed to our successes, these Supplier Performance
 Award winners are exemplary. Together, we've developed collaborative,
 mutually beneficial relationships and supply-chain-management best
 practices that will carry forward during 2007 and beyond.
  
 "Working with our key suppliers, we've had remarkable results applying
 these best practices," added Brownell. "We've learned that new approaches,
 new tools, and new information continually help our teams rethink what is
 possible. This strategy has led to more than $808 million in cost benefits
 to the Postal Service in FY06."
  
 According to Brownell, in FY06, the Postal Service spent more than
 $15.4 billion for transportation, facilities, supplies, services, and
 equipment with a supplier base of more than 25,000.
  
 The 2006 Supplier Performance Award winners are:
 SUPPLIER PERFORMANCE AWARDS
 Eligibility for this award category is reserved for suppliers
 designated by the USPS category management centers as "Key Suppliers"
 (based on business impact segmentation analysis) that have demonstrated
 outstanding supply-chain-management performance and positive business
 relationships with the USPS.
  
 ·         Ecolab, Inc., Burlington, N.C.
                (Pest management services)
                "Our organization is honored to receive the USPS Supplier Performance
                Award! We earn your business every day by providing high-quality products,
                services, and systems that are safe and reliable. Superior service built
                this company and continues to be our central policy and philosophy. We are
                pleased to accept this award, and we look forward to working with the
                Postal Service as our business partner well into the future."
                -- Paul Norman, Vice President Sales
  
 ·         Pest Elimination Division
                Grainger, Lake Forest, Ill.
                (Maintenance, repair, and operations supplies and related services)
                "Grainger is truly honored to be recognized by the U.S. Postal Service
                for our performance as a supplier. We place tremendous value in our
                partnership with the USPS. Our employees are committed to helping them find
                ways to reduce costs associated with purchasing maintenance, repair and
                operating supplies across their more than 38,000 facilities. I am proud of
                the success we've had over the years in making the purchasing process more
                efficient and cost-effective. We look forward to continuing to partner with
                the USPS to identify additional ways to enhance service and reduce costs in
                the years ahead."
                -- Pat Davidson, Vice President, Sales and Marketing
  
 ·         Hewlett Packard Corporation, Palo Alto, Calif.
                (Information technology equipment and services)
                "HP is extremely pleased and honored to be recognized with this award.
                The U.S. Postal Service is one of HP's most significant customers. We work
                closely with them to bring the best technology solutions available to meet
                their business needs. This award recognizes our efforts, and we look
                forward to contributing to the U.S. Postal Service's transformation in the
                future."
                -- Jack Novia, Managing Director & Senior Vice President
  
 ·         Technology Solutions Group
                Honeywell International, Inc., St. Louis Park, Minn.
                (Shared energy services)
                "The U.S. Postal Service Supplier Performance Award is a great honor
                for Honeywell. The award recognizes the outstanding partnership between
                Honeywell and the Postal Service over the past four years. The award
                signifies the sharing of common awareness of the need to save energy in all
                facilities nationwide."
                -- Joseph Puishys, President, Honeywell Building Solutions
  
 SUPPLIER EXCELLENCE AWARDS
 This award category is open to all suppliers (except those designated
 as "Key Suppliers" and, therefore, eligible for the Supplier Performance
 Award category) that have demonstrated outstanding supply-chain-management
 performance and positive business relationships with the USPS.
  
 ·         ABB, Inc., Auburn Hills, Mich.
                (Robotic containerization systems)
                "ABB is pleased to accept this award. Throughout the execution of the
                RCS program, we've focused on working with the United States Postal Service
                team to deliver robotic automation that meets the highest quality and
                delivery standards in the industry. We appreciate being recognized for our
                performance and are proud to be a valued supplier supporting productivity
                improvements for mail delivery systems."
                -- Kirk Goins, Sr. Vice President
  
 ·         IBM Corporation, Armonk, N.Y.
                (Transit time measurement systems)
                "IBM is honored to receive the 2006 USPS Supplier Excellence Award. It
                reflects the commitment and dedication of over 300 professionals who
                provide quality service to the Postal Service on a daily basis. The United
                States Postal Service provides a tremendous service to our nation, touching
                our citizens six days a week and delivering important communications and
                packages that are the lifeblood of our economy. IBM is proud to support the
                USPS in delivering on this critical mission.
                -- William Takis, Partner
  
 ·         U.S. Stamp & Sign, Cookeville, Tenn.
                (Business cards and related services)
                "U.S. Stamp & Sign is proud to be a partner of the U.S. Postal Service,
                and the recipient of a Supplier Excellence Award. On behalf of all our
                dedicated associates, we are very pleased to accept this award, and look
                forward to continuing to assist the U.S. Postal Service in finding
                innovative ways to more effectively achieve its mission of providing mail
                service to the American public."
                -- Patrick Spear, President/Chief Operating Officer, Identity Group, LLC
  
 SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AWARDS
 This award category is open to all suppliers for outstanding efforts in
 promoting diversity throughout the supply chain.
  
 Cleanwise, Inc., Marlborough, Mass.
                (Custodial products and related services)
                "Receiving this award from such a forward thinking industry leader is a
                true honor. The USPS has proven that doing the 'right thing' in promoting
                diversity among suppliers can also be the best business decision to lower
                total costs and improve overall service performance levels. We are very
                grateful to have such a collaborative and dynamic partnership with the
                USPS."
                -- Keith Alsheimer, President & Chief Executive Officer
 
          Grainger, Fairfax, Va.
                (Maintenance, repair, & operations products and related services)
                "Grainger is truly honored to be recognized by the U.S. Postal Service
                for our performance as a supplier. We place tremendous value in our
                partnership with the USPS. Our employees are committed to helping them find
                ways to reduce costs associated with purchasing maintenance, repair and
                operating supplies across their more than 38,000 facilities. I am proud of
                the success we've had over the years in making the purchasing process more
                efficient and cost-effective. We look forward to continuing to partner with
                the USPS to identify additional ways to enhance service and reduce costs in
                the years ahead."
                -- Pat Davidson, Vice President, Sales and Marketing  
 
 POSTAL SUPPLIER COUNCIL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
 This award category recognizes individuals or teams from participating
 suppliers who have made the biggest annual impact on the success of Postal
 Supplier Council efforts.  
 
          Auth-Florence Manufacturing Company, Manhattan, Kan.
                (Delivery and retail products)
                "All of us at Florence are honored to be recognized with this award
                from the U.S. Postal Service. We are pleased that our collaboration with
                the excellent business teams at the Postal Service has resulted in savings
                and enhanced services with mutual benefits. We look forward to working
                together on future projects and finding ways to continually improve each of
                our business operations."
                -- David Dailey, President & Chief Executive Officer, Florence Corporation
 
          OfficeMax Government Solutions, Naperville, Ill.
                (Office products)
                Matt Baer being named a winner of the Postal Supplier Council
                Excellence Award is a great honor for him and OfficeMax. His efforts on the
                Postal Supplier Council on behalf of the Postal Service dovetail nicely
                with the OfficeMax Mission 'to help our customers do their best work.'
                Thank you for providing an opportunity for Matt and OfficeMax to be a
                positive contributor to the United States Postal Service. We wish you
                continued success."
                -- Sam Duncan, Chief Executive Officer  
 
 An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only
 delivery service that visits every address in the nation, 146 million homes
 and businesses, six days a week. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies
 on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating
 expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $73
 billion and delivers more than 46% of the world's mail volume.

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