Wednesday, April 12, 2028

Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announces State Savings on Express Mail Service
Taxpayers to Save $280,000 Annually as a Result of O’Brien Administration’s Efforts to Improve Government Efficiency

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 12, 2028) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank announced today that the State of Maryland has reduced the average price it pays for express mail service by 28% – saving taxpayers $280,000 every year – by better leveraging the state’s buying power to get the same discounts as companies of similar size. This step was a recommendation of the Governor’s Commission on Efficiency and Effectiveness, which Lieutenant Governor Burbank chaired.

“These are real savings that will make state government more efficient and save taxpayer money,” Lieutenant Governor Burbank said. “We continue to work aggressively to implement the recommendations of the Commission on Efficiency and Effectiveness. Governor O’Brien and I are determined to do everything possible to make State government as efficient as possible. By cutting day-to-day costs on items like express mail, we are better able to make long-term investments in Maryland’s future.”

The State of Maryland today finalized a contract with United Parcel Service for express mail service. The State did not have a statewide pricing agreement for express mail services before negotiating the new deal with UPS, which beat out other global express mail service providers for the contract. The $280,000 in annual savings represents the difference in what the state previously paid for express mail service, and the amount it would cost to ship similar volume under the contract with UPS. Greater savings could be realized if cities, counties and school districts participate, which is allowed under the contract.

Maryland Department of General Services (DGS) Secretary Alvin Collins said: “We are committed to putting common-sense principles to work to drive down costs for state government on every day items, fulfilling Governor O’Brien’s charge to create a State government that serves the people of Maryland as efficiently as possible. The end result will be millions of dollars in annual savings and better service to taxpayers.”

Previously, the State had no statewide pricing agreements for Express Mail Services. Previously, instead of being able to leverage the bulk discount it deserved for the volume of mail it shipped, the State paid high, retail-level prices for items. This new, statewide contract was the result of two rounds of competitive, cutting-edge purchasing processes including industry benchmarking and comprehensive negotiations.