TSN Gives CBP Its List of ACE Priorities

According to TSN sources, these documents were developed in response to a request from CBP to come up with a list of business priorities for ACE development. Certain TSN Committees provided their priorities to TSN, and then TSN as a whole submitted the ACE Prioritization Recommendations to CBP.

The TSN used input from various industries and their recommendations are based on input from Customs professionals internal and external to the TSN. The priorities listed below represent a consensus reached by the TSN Trade Leadership.

TSN's ACE System Priorities

The TSN presents the following as its list of ACE system priorities, from first to last:

Integration to one system. The first ACE system priority for TSN is the integration into one system - ACE. Currently, the trade can operate in two systems: ACE and the Automated Commercial System (ACS).

The integration into one system will require the following to be functional in ACE:

Cargo Release - including ITDS/PGA admissibility functionality; multi-modal manifest (one manifest system for all modes); filing of release data and corresponding responses; access to bill of lading (BOL) information; in-bond functionality, including in-transit and permits to transfer; etc.

Electronic bonds - including surety bond authorization processing. This would allow for the establishment of a surety agent ACE ID, single transaction bond view and bond query options via the ACE Portal. This element relates to cargo release but is maintained separately because of its relation to other priority functionality.

Entry summary - including ITDS/PGA functionality; entry summary types 01, 11, and 03; scanned document/EDI imaging; remote location filing (RLF) for all entry types; post summary corrections (via ABI and the Portal); additional entry summary types; enhanced entry summary edits for ACE deployed entry types; and liquidation, including access to liquidation data via the Portal.

Entry related payment information - including current statement information via EDI (including when there are zero duties and fees); continuation of current reporting functionality via the Portal; and claims management.

Exports - including export cargo control for filing manifest data to meet CBP and PGA's data and timing requirements; ITDS/PGA functionality; establishment of account types for exports; and export data/report functionality in ACE Portal for all account types (exporters, carriers, freight forwarders, terminal operators, and port authorities).

Automated surety interface.

Enhanced post summary processing - including CBP Form 28s, 29s, and 4647s via the ACE Portal and EDI.

Importer Security Filing (ISF) - trade visibility and reporting.

Drawback - a legacy drawback program in ACS (if legislation has not passed, see below).

Importer Activity Summary Statement (IASS) - due to legislative/regulatory changes related to items such as electronic advance manifests and the ISF adjustment through prior consultation with the trade is required.

Portal entry filing functionality.

Drawback legislation. The second ACE system priority for TSN is duty drawback, which is dependent on legislation. If duty drawback legislation drafted by or similar to legislation drafted by TSN Revenue/Duty Drawback Committee becomes law then programming for new requirements becomes a higher priority.

Other ACE business functionality. Finally, TSN lists the following under "other ACE business functionality," as it has no decision on where to prioritize the items:

• AD/CVD Case Management
• All other entry summary types
• Programming for non-entry related payments
• Enhanced Licenses, Permits, and Certificates (LPC)
• Quota Master Data
• Enhanced Broker Management to include electronic notification and collection of fees
• Automated Invoice
• Importer Agent (CBPF 4811) Processing
• Laboratory Information Management System
• Regulatory Audit Management Information System
• Protest
• Full MID Processing
• Pipelines
• Mail Entry Writing System (MEWS)
• Conveyance Management System (CMS)
• Enterprise (including prior disclosure, EDI profiles, etc.)

(The TSN also presented CBP with a PGA functionality matrix; MMM House BOL release white paper; and ACE functionality priority recommendations from certain TSN Committees.)

(See ITT's Online Archives or 11/19/09 news, 09111905, for BP summary of TSN's white paper on release at the House BOL level.

See ITT's Online Archives or 09/23/09 news, 09092310, for BP summary of TSN discussing post summary corrections, etc.

See ITT's Online Archives or 11/30/09 news, 09113010, for final part of BP's summary on the status of ITDS, with links to previous parts.)

TSN documents (presented to CBP on 11/05/09) available by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com