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, HoneywellBuilding 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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