CBP Posts Q&A from Webinar on Status of ACE

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a questions and answers document from its October 27, 2010 webinar providing an update on the Automated Commercial Environment.

Recorded Webcast Available on CBP’s Website

CBP also posted a webcast recording of the webinar. During the webinar, CBP and International Trade Data System officials covered a variety of topics to relay how CBP is dedicated to reengaging stakeholders, reenergizing efforts, and resetting the direction to make ACE a reality for everyone. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 11/01/10 news, 10110110, for BP summary of the webinar.)

Highlights of Questions and Answers

The following are highlights of the questions and answers from the webinar:

PSC Functionality Will Only be for ACE Entries, PEAs Not Permitted in ACE

Importers or brokers will have to participate in ACE entry summary filing (vs. Automated Broker Interface (ABI)) in order to utilize Post-Summary Corrections in ACE. PSCs will not be available for non-ACE entries.

In response to a question on whether it is anticipated that importers will be able to by-pass their broker to use PSCs in ACE, CBP stated that importers may by-pass their brokers but the PSCs must be filed electronically. Paper Post Entry Amendments (PEAs) will not be permitted for ACE entry summary changes.

35% of ACE Functionality Has Been Deployed at Cost of $2.8B

35% of the ACE functionality has been deployed at a cost of $2.8 billion.

CBP notes that the ACE Business Office is currently working on communications to the trade regarding ACE’s upcoming releases and its future releases. More information will be available in early 2011.

No Target Date for ACE to be the “System of Record”

CBP states that is not a current established target date for ACE to become the “system of record” for CBP. ACE is in a re-planning phase. CBP will know more about the target completion date in 2011.

ACE will replace the Automated Commercial System (not ABI) at some point in time.

CBP Will Not Mandate Uploaded Declarations, Etc. Until Portal Usage Mandatory

In response to the question asking if CBP sees a mandate for importers to upload declarations and other documents online as the International Trade Data System (ITDS) will not work without electronic submission of documents, CBP stated that CBP will not mandate that importers upload declarations and other documents online until the ACE portal usage is mandatory.

ISF Not Incorporated into ACE Yet

ACE entry summary does not have Importer Security Filing (ISF) yet, however e-Manifest: Ocean and Rail (M1) does have ISF incorporated into its system. CBP plans to pilot M1 in February 2011 and deploy it in spring 2011.

ACE Listed as High-Risk Project due to Budget and Schedule Issues

ACE was listed on the list of high-risk projects at the Office of Management and Budget due to budget overruns and schedule slips. CBP has taken action to reorganize and reprioritize the ACE program, including creating the ACE Business Office, led by an Executive Business Owner. CBP continues to re-plan with regards to ACE.

CBP Investigating Discrepancies with ACE Reports

Commenters noted that they are still seeing data discrepancies in ACE reports pertaining to entry summary that do not match reports issued by CBP directly, etc.

CBP recognizes that currently there are data discrepancies and is actively investigating them. As fixes are made notifications will be sent to the trade. CBP stated that it encourages the trade to open a trouble ticket when discrepancies are found so they can be investigated.

CBP added that for those filers who transmit ACE entry summaries, more data elements are available for inclusion in reports since ACE is the system of record for the entry summary.

CBP also noted that it will be hosting another Advanced Reports Webinar in November. (They recently held one on October 21, 2010.)

Brokers, Importers to Have Access to BOL Info with M1

Importers and brokers will have access to bill of lading status information with the deployment of M1 in spring 2011.

CBP Working with PGAs to Determine How Release Notices Will be Processed

In response to a request for information on the current plans for issuance of agency releases in the ITDS environment, CBP stated that this issue will be decided as part of the Cargo Release Business Case. CBP is currently working with its Participating Government Agency (PGA) counterparts to determine how release notices will be processed.

CBP Will Revalidate GIFs as Specific Functionality Addressed

In response to concerns that Great Idea Forms (GIFs) would be disregarded or overridden due to the development of business requirements, CBP stated that GIFs submitted by the trade will be revalidated as CBP addresses the specific functionality.

Webcast recording is available here.