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Central Shipping handles over 30,000 packages and parcels yearly. Ship your parcels right from your Desk Top PC using our e-Portal system. The shipping system is designed to save your department and the institution up to 20% on carrier expenses, while increasing efficiency.   Accessible through your Web browser, the system provides cost-effective access to shipping information and eliminate the need for software distribution to users. The new system supports Airborne, FedEx, UPS, USPS and other rates. “SmartShop” - Smart Shopping reduces carrier costs, comparing and selecting carrier services according to cost and delivery objectives. “StreetSmart” address correction improves delivery times and reduces carrier fees. The system tracks cost center allocations effectively and accurately for every transaction, reducing the need for post-shipment auditing.

Overview:   Desktop Express is an intranet-based shipping management system. It provides shippers with desktop access to information they need to optimize carrier service utilization, including service delivery comparisons, business rule automation, address correction, and powerful analytical capabilities. It helps reduce costs, simplify cost center allocations, and improve on-time delivery.

Desktop Express enables rating, shipping, and tracking of letters, express documents, and packages right from your desktop. Powerful administration and management tools combine with the intranet architecture to lower total cost of ownership. Most users can expect savings of up to 20% of their carrier expenses and gain employee efficiency and significant customer service improvements.

To access the Desk Top Shipping System or if you have any questions, please call the Help Desk at
x-1958.

Desk Top Express Authorization Form:

On-Line Shipping Login: http://pitbow/

Logistics Policies & Procedures:

Hours of operation are:

Customer Service: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For assistance, please contact us at:

Administrative Coordinator: Thimmayya Billava (860)-679-1960
Fax (x-1218)

Materials Administrative Assistant: Alex Schwarz, at (860)-679-1942 Fax (x-1218)

Materials Logistics Supervisor: Adam Mike, at (860)-679-3255 Fax (x-1993)

Administration:

University Director: Jack Ferraro

Assistant Director/Finance & Business Manager: Jeff Boyko

IMPORTANT NOTICES:

Distribution Related Forms:
1. MM-3R - Materials Return Form (To Materials Management)
Dangerous Goods Shipping – New Requirement

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has revised their Dangerous Goods Regulations, effective October 1, 2006, for shipping hazardous materials by air.

The new regulation requires an “Air Eligible” marking for most hazardous material packages, such as diagnostic specimens, that are shipped by air.

The following is a sample “Air Eligible” marking that may be used.

The DOT regulation 49CFR172.321(3) states the following: “Include an aircraft within a circle and may include the words “Air Eligible” in conjunction with the mark”. So if you have a favorite aircraft you can place it in a circle and use it as the marking.

The DOT also requires that individuals who ship diagnostic specimens or other dangerous goods must receive training.

The next Shipping Dangerous Goods training session, which will include upcoming new shipping requirements, is scheduled for August 16, 2006 from 2:00 – 3:30PM in the ARB Large conference room EG-013. Call the Research Safety Office (x2723) if you have questions on shipping hazardous materials or importing/exporting materials to/from other countries.

Jim Fomenko
Research Safety Office
Diagnostic Specimen Shipping Requirements

The International Air Transport Association (IATA): Dangerous Goods Regulations for shipping diagnostic/clinical specimens by air.

Major changes to the regulation are as follows:

1) Diagnostic/Clinical specimens must display a “UN3373” label and either the marking “Diagnostic Specimens” or “Clinical Specimens” next to this label.

2) A rigid outer packing will be required in addition to the currently required primary receptacle and secondary packaging.

3) The airway bill will need to show the text “Diagnostic Specimens” or “Clinical Specimens” and “UN3373”.

The UN3373 labels can be obtained from the Research Safety Office. We can also provide a PowerPoint file if you would like to make your own labels.

Please check with Jim Fomenko at x-2723 or the Research Safety Office for the next scheduled Shipping Dangerous Goods training session, which will include these new shipping requirements.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that individuals who ship diagnostic specimens or other dangerous goods must receive training.

Shipping Hazardous or Biological Materials

From the Office of Research Safety

It's a good time to make sure the T's are crossed and the I's dotted in areas of compliance. From the cases of Tomas Foral, the UConn Storrs grad student brought up on charges of possessing anthrax under the Patriot Act, and Dr. Thomas Butler of Texas Tech, recently convicted on 47 counts, one can see that the government is serious about making examples
of unwary and/or non-compliant researchers.

Here are articles about Dr. Butler from CNN and Science.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/12/02/professor.trial.ap/index.html

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/302/5653/2054

A few take-home lessons:

An unfavorable discovery in one area of compliance leads to investigations into other areas - "one thing leads to another"

Don't transport biological materials yourself, use a shipper. Prior to shipping or receiving any hazardous material (biological, chemical, radioactive) contact the Research Safety office unless you have already received specific training for your situation.

Let the Biological Safety Officer know if you are planning to receive any biological materials that are infectious to humans, animals or plants - both CDC and USDA may have import and/or interstate transport permitting requirements. If they do, the permits may take time to acquire.

Office of Research Safety
679-2723

You can not Ship Hazardous Materials at this time using the new Web Based Desk Top/Deliverability System. Please Use the Standard Forms. Dry Ice is considered to be in this category.

Wrong Shipping Addresses Can Cost You $$

Please avoid high costs for using outdated shipping addresses. Always verify that you have the most up-to-date addresses before shipping your parcels. Departments have been charged up-to $100.00 for using the wrong address. There is also a penalty charge for selecting business when residential should have been selected. The cost is not as significant as for using a wrong address, however you will be charged for this error.

Deleted Shipping Requests

If you enter a shipping request, please make sure that you deliver the parcel to the West Dock for processing that day. If you do not have the parcel delivered the same day, your request will be deleted from the system. The system assumes that you are shipping the same day you enter the request. If you decide not to ship a parcel that has been entered, you may void/delete the request on-line.

Carrier Pick-Up Times

Please be informed that you must pay special attention to the carrier pick-up times when requesting priority service. Please note the scheduled carrier schedules. Every effort is being made to get late afternoon pick-ups.

- UPS picks up by 10:00 a.m. daily

- FedEx picks up by 2:30 p.m. daily

- Airborne picks up by 2:30 p.m. daily

Holiday Schedule

Since the UCHC Mail & Shipping Center follows the same schedule as the U.S. Post Office, normal distribution services during National Holidays will be effected, as the flow of incoming mail from the Post Office will be substantially reduced. As always, normal distribution of mail to the main building will also be suspended on those Holidays. The Mail Center will be open should you need assistance or need to pick-up your department's mail. Perishable items, health care products, special and priority parcels from the Warehouse and Central Distribution will be delivered as always. There will be no mail or distribution services during major holidays (e.g. Fourth of July, Christmas, Thanksgiving , Labor Day and Memorial Day).

Current Events

Bioterrorism Information Websites

In light of the continuing events related to bioterrorism the Connecticut Hospital Association suggests the following web sites:

CDC PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE

http://www.bt.cdc.gov contains bioterrorism fact sheets, guidelines, notification protocols, news, Frequently Asked Questions, links, and more. Includes information about CDC roles and national programs such as the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile and the Health Alert Network.

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE - MEDLINEPLUS HEALTH TOPIC ON ANTHRAX

The National Library of Medicine at NIH has created a Medlineplus health topic page on anthrax. Medlineplus is the NLM's consumer health information service. The new page was released October 18. It contains targeted links to pertinent information at CDC, other federal agencies, professional associations, media reports, prefab Medline searches, and more.