102-192.55—Why must we use these commercial payment processes?

Federal agencies are required to use commercial payment processes because commercial payment requires obligation of the money before the postage is used (by contrast, use of the OMAS system allows the postage use and the obligation of funds to occur almost entirely independently of each other). Requiring the program level manager who generates the mail to obligate the money before the postage is used makes it much more likely that the same program level manager will be accountable for the money, thereby encouraging good judgment in using postage.

CFR

102-192.55—Why must we use these commercial payment processes?