The "brackets of inclusion" in the NPS are of major importance. They indicate:

1. which FSAs can be grouped together to create a bundle
2. which bundles can be containerized together in bags or hard-sided containers
3. what information to enter on bundle, container or bag labels

Mail must be grouped/bundled and containerized to the lowest possible level of the NPS.

Figure 3 illustrates the NPS "Levels of Access" for Publications Mail when consolidating items into bundles and containers.

The levels of consolidation as per the National Presortation Schematic (NPS) are as follows:

• Level 1 – Delivery Facility (bundles and containers)
• Level 2 – City consolidation (containers only)
• Level 3 – Distribution Centre Facility (DCF) (bundles and containers)
• Level 4 – Forward Consolidation Point (FCP) (bundles and containers)

Grouping/Bundling :

You may group/bundle items to NPS Levels 1, 3 and 4 only. If you cannot group/bundle items to one of these levels, the items must be grouped/bundled as Residue.

Containerizing:

You may containerize your groupings/bundles to NPS Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4. If you cannot containerize your groupings/bundles to any of these levels, the groupings/bundles must be containerized as Residue.