CBP Reports to Congress on ACE (ITDS PGA Integration Schedules)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted its report to Congress on the Automated Commercial Environment for the second quarter of fiscal year 2008 (January 1, 2008 - March 31, 2008). The report provides an update on ACE accomplishments, challenges, fiscal status, and upcoming program milestones.
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This is Part IV, the final part of a multi-part series of summaries on this report, and highlights the report's Appendix G which provides the integration schedules for individual International Trade Data System (ITDS)1 participating government agencies (PGAs).
Appendix G provides the schedule and status of the PGAs into ITDS for each of the elements of ITDS integration (functional assessment, "as is" processes, data requirements, "to be" processes, and the creation of Concept of Operations (CONOPS) documents).
In addition, the appendix provides information on upcoming activities related to the specific PGA's integration into ITDS.
Issues Facing Certain Agencies in Integrating into ITDS
Appendix G also contains "notes" regarding ITDS for various agencies, including (partial list):
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. ATF does not have funding to support implementation of product codes; therefore, certain ATF requirements (e.g., quotas) cannot be supported by ACE.
Bureau of Industry and Security. BIS sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) informing OMB that BIS will not be participating in ITDS at this time.
Centers for Disease Control. CDC informed CBP that it will cease participation in ITDS at this time due to resource constraints, particularly those related to information technology.
Fish and Wildlife Service. The Interior Department (FWS' parent agency) and CBP legal teams need to resolve scope of the FWS' legal authority to access ACE data.
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration. GIPSA is seeking better understanding of proposed export functionality for ACE and the type of information and data that they will be able to extract from ACE.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA's disposition of paper HS-7 forms and status of DOT International Freight Data System (IFDS) is an issue.
National Marine Fisheries Service. NMFS' development of business processes is behind schedule. Lack of CONOPS at this point may impact participation in ACE M2.3.
Office of Foreign Assets Control. OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list should be an ACE screening and targeting (S&T) requirement; however, there is not a clear process for submitting and tracking S&T requirements for PGAs.
Office of Foreign Missions. OFM Diplomatic and Foreign Missions lists should be an ACE S&T requirement, however, there is not a clear process for submitting and tracking S&T requirements for PGAs.
1ITDS is the mechanism for coordinating intergovernmental participation in the ACE trade processing system. In September 2007, OMB issued a directive instructing agencies to develop plans outlining the steps needed to complete each stage of its interface with ITDS, including any necessary rulemaking or acquisitions, by November 12, 2007. The OMB directive further stated that by 2009 all agencies are expected to fully utilize ITDS.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 06/04/08, 06/05/08, and 06/06/08 news, 08060415, 08060505, and 08060615, for Parts I-III of BP's summary on this ACE report, with information on cargo, ESAR, MMM, screening and targeting, GAO recommendations etc.)
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