CBP Reports to Congress on ACE (Cargo, ESAR, MMM, Etc.)

This is Part I of a multi-part series of summaries on this report, and highlights CBP's assessment of ACE Secure Cargo Management capabilities (e.g., e-Manifest, ESAR, MMM, etc.) and related ACE milestones.

ACE Secure Cargo Management

ACE Secure Cargo Management capabilities discussed in the report include:

ESAR A2.2 & A2.3. CBP completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for Entry Summary, Accounts, and Revenue (ESAR) Initial Entry Summary Types (A2.2).

With the completion of this milestone, CBP can begin development of ACE A2.2 capabilities, which will allow importers and brokers to begin voluntary filing of entry summaries for entry types 01 and 11 (the vast majority of entries) at an initial group of ports beginning in January 2009.

Due to the volume of resources dedicated to A2.2 development efforts, CBP does not expect to complete the CDR for ESAR Remaining Entry Summary Types (A2.3) in May 2008 as previously planned.

MMM. CBP is also focused on the design and development of ACE Multi-Modal Manifest (MMM) capabilities that will expand ACE to include all modes of transportation and provide a single, automated system for cargo control and release.

e-Manifest: Ocean and Rail (M1), scheduled for deployment in October 2008, will be the first drop of ACE MMM capabilities to be deployed and will provide CBP officers with a consolidated view of rail and sea manifest and entry data at the bill of lading or container level. In preparation for M1 deployment, CBP has added 180 service port Site Readiness Leads to the Field Readiness Network and certified nearly 60 frontline personnel to serve as On-Site Support ACE Ambassadors to provide additional ACE updates and assistance to M1 users.

However, due to certain challenges with M1 testing, the e-Manifest: Truck, also referred to as full MMM (M2.2) CDR, previously planned for May 2008, is expected to be delayed.

CBP is taking steps to re-plan the development of Conveyance Management System capabilities (currently part of e-Manifest: Air and Conveyance Management System (M2.1)) and is evaluating the use of an off-site development facility in an effort to develop these capabilities more cost-effectively.

In addition, detailed design work is underway for M2.2 capabilities, which will incorporate truck e-Manifest data into the MMM cargo processing environment.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 05/19/08 news, 08051910, for BP summary announcing that MMM capabilities would be deployed in six phases.)

ITDS. The number of International Trade Data System (ITDS) participating government agencies (PGAs) expanded from 40 to 42 with the inclusion of the Coast Guard and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

CBP notes that the system interface between ACE and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Query Central system that will enable the transmission of truck e-Manifest data from ACE to FMCSA has been successfully tested. Implementation of this capability is scheduled for June 2008 (see below for details).

ADE. CBP implemented the Authorized Data Extract (ADE) capability that allows an ACE portal user to download large quantities of transactional data for analysis in proprietary data systems. Only limited access has been granted so far, but the functionality will be expanded to all users within a short period of time. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/07/08 news, 08040710, for BP summary of ADE's availability to all importer and broker ACE Portal Account users.)

ACE Milestones for June 2008

The report identifies the following as ACE milestones that are scheduled for June 2008 (partial list):

ACE reporting enhancements. Implement further enhancements to ACE reporting capabilities, including faster downloading of standard reports and the ability to customize reports with a broader array of data elements. CBP will continue delivering standard reports training and begin delivering ad-hoc ACE reports instructor-led training for CBP officers, port management, import and entry specialists, analysts, and national account managers. (See today's ITT, 08060405, for BP summary of CBP deploying Phase 1 of ad hoc report capabilities.)

ACE/FMCSA interface query. Reactivate the system interface between ACE and the FMCSA Query Central system that will facilitate the transmission of truck e-Manifest data from ACE to FMCSA and enable FMCSA to use this data to conduct pre-arrival screening of truck manifest information.

This will represent the first full-time system-to-system use of ACE by an ITDS PGA and a significant step toward the realization of the ITDS vision of a "single window" for filing trade data.

CBP's ACE quarterly report (including Appendices A-F) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/automated/modernization/ace/quarterly_reports/ace_status_report_to_congress_march_2008/ace_2ndqtr_08.ctt/ace_2ndqtr_08.pdf

Appendix G of quarterly report available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/automated/modernization/ace/quarterly_reports/ace_status_report_to_congress_march_2008/ace_appendixg.ctt/ace_appendixg.pdf

BP Note - ACE Development Schedule

CBP's most recent version of its ACE 101 PowerPoint presentation provides the following ACE development schedule: