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.