Sectional Center Facility
A USPS mail processing plant that serves as the primary sorting hub for a group of ZIP codes sharing the same first three digits (the 3-digit prefix).
Sectional Center Facilities (SCFs) are the backbone of the USPS mail processing network. Each SCF handles mail for all ZIP codes that begin with the same three digits — for example, SCF 100 processes mail for ZIP codes 10001 through 10099. There are approximately 400 SCFs across the United States.
When mail is deposited, it is first transported to the origin SCF, where automated equipment reads the destination ZIP code and sorts pieces into containers bound for the destination SCF. At the destination SCF, mail is further sorted by carrier route and sent to the local post office for final delivery.
The SCF concept is important for bulk mailers because the USPS offers lower postage rates for mail pre-sorted and entered at the destination SCF, bypassing part of the processing network.