CBP Releases its March 31, 2005 Quarterly Report to Congress on ACE
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently posted to its Web site its quarterly report on the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) entitled Report to Congress: The Automated Commercial Environment. This report is dated March 31, 2005 and covers the January 1, 2005 -March 31, 2005 period.
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CBP states that this report provides a "snapshot" of current program status, highlighting recent accomplishments, challenges, cost and schedule status, and near-term milestones.
This is Part I of a multi-part series of summaries on CBP's March 31, 2005 report and provides highlights of CBP's efforts to resolve outstanding audit recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). See future issues of ITT for additional summaries.
GAO Intends to Close Two Recommendations from Previous Reports
According to CBP, the GAO has indicated its intent to close two recommendations from previous GAO reports on the following topics:
Establish an Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) function. CBP states that it awarded the IV&V contract in December 2004, thus establishing an independent IV&V capability with a contractor that heretofore has not been involved in ACE development.
Reconsider the ACE acquisitions schedule and cost estimates in light of early release problems. CBP states that it has completed its implementation of this recommendation by: (1) establishing and managing to an Over Target Baseline for the Periodic Payment and e-Manifest: Trucks releases; and (2) rebaselining the ACE program in summer 2004. According to CBP, future program plans will ensure that any concurrent development is effectively managed and minimized to address the associated risk.
CBP Continues to Work on "Open" GAO Recommendations
CBP states that it is actively addressing the following open GAO recommendations:
Use ACE infrastructure for DHS. CBP states that, to date, no expenditures have been planned for ACE to support other homeland security applications. However, through the International Trade Data System (ITDS), CBP continues to coordinate with other federal agencies to explore areas where ACE can be expanded and integrated where it makes sense to do so.
CBP further notes that as part of its efforts to implement Homeland Security Presidential Directive-11, the CBP Modernization Executive Steering Committee is being reoriented to focus on intergovernmental cargo security systems coordination.
Develop and implement a rigorous and analytically verifiable cost-estimating program. CBP states that its Modernization Office has, among other things, established a disciplined cost-estimating process which enables an independent government analysis and validation of the e Customs Partnership (eCP) cost and schedule estimates. CBP states that it is awaiting input from GAO on what, if any, additional steps are required to fully close this recommendation.
Measure program management improvement efforts. CBP states that the primary metric to gauge program performance has been Earned Value (EV) Management. According to CBP, for 10 consecutive months, EV indicators reviewed at monthly Cost Performance Reviews indicate that cost and schedule performance have improved. The CBP Modernization Office is also collecting business outcome measures to demonstrate program effectiveness.
Develop and implement a human capital management strategy. CBP states that its Office of Information and Technology (OIT) implemented the initial phase of its reorganization in December 2004. According to CBP, some of the key changes include: (1) total CBP Modernization Office workforce currently numbers 184; and (2) the CBP Modernization Office Executive Director and Business Executive positions have been merged into a single Senior Executive Service position reporting to the Assistant Commissioner, OIT.
Report quarterly to Congress to address GAO recommendations. CBP notes that it has been providing quarterly reports on ACE since November 2002.
Define and implement an accountability framework. CBP states that its Modernization Office has followed its established processes to balance quality, cost, and schedule objectives. CBP further states that it will build on the existing program management foundation and the OIT reorganization to further define and enhance its accountability framework. According to CBP, this work will be accomplished as follows:
May 2005 - establish a clear delineation of roles and responsibilities between CBP and the eCP.
July 2005 - establish a formal document that defines the ACE Program accountability framework, its key elements, and a description of how it is being implemented. This document will further depict the decision-making mechanisms for the ACE program.
August 2005 - In conjunction with the GAO review of the Fiscal Year 2006 Expenditure Plan, CBP's Modernization Office will demonstrate coverage, currency, relevance, and completeness of all program commitment areas - and the reliability of the data that measures progress on these commitments. Likewise, the CBP Modernization Office will demonstrate the application of milestone exit criteria that adequately consider indicators of system maturity.
ACE December 2004 Quarterly Report alsoavailablefrom CBP Web Site
CBP has also made available on its Web site its December 31, 2004 quarterly report to Congress on ACE which covers the period from October 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004.
December 31, 2004 ACE quarterly report available at
March 32, 2005 ACE quarterly report available at