The Postal Service and the General Services Administration will soon offer USAccess government credentialing services at more Post Offices across the nation.
The program provides authorized federal employees and contractors with personal identity verification cards for a variety of purposes, such as getting access to federal office buildings.
Currently, six Post Office locations offer USAccess services by appointment, part of the Postal Service’s broader effort to leverage its retail network and trusted reputation. During fiscal year 2023, which begins Oct. 1, USPS and GSA plan to offer the services at 22 locations.
USPS began offering USAccess services as a pilot program in 2020 after the General Services Administration, also known as GSA, closed approximately 400 USAccess locations during the coronavirus pandemic.
Postal employees were trained to use the USAccess computers and other equipment provided by GSA.
“We do multiple transactions including enrollment, activation and PIN resets,” said Ann Marie Tallarino, the Postal Service’s digital marketing and solutions specialist. “We’ve had very positive feedback from customers. Without the hard work and dedication of our employees, the success of the program wouldn’t be possible.”
When the pilot ended last year, GSA and the Postal Service decided to continue the USAccess collaboration permanently at more postal locations to be determined by the GSA.
Meanwhile, USAccess postal locations, such as the Merrifield, VA, Post Office, are booked up months in advance.
USAccess fits with passport and FBI fingerprinting services offered at the Post Office, said Kabirul Islam, a retail associate and one of the USAccess experts.
More than half the USAccess customers at Merrifield need new ID cards, while roughly 15 percent already have a card and come to the Post Office to have it activated, according to Islam, who was recently recognized by GSA for his customer service skills.
“All of the window clerks are trained for good customer service. It’s not only me. But I’m happy the Postal Service will open more locations so that customers can get this service,” he said.
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