CBP Puts M1 Pilot "On Hold" due to Contractor Issues
During a recent interview with Broker Power, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials provided an update on ACE, including the deployment of M1, the 24 high priority ACE entry summary edits, Post Summary Correction functionality, cargo release, the document imaging system, etc.
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(The M1 delivery will incorporate the rail and ocean electronic manifest processing into the ACE Multi-Modal Manifest (MMM) database. M1 is a 5-year development effort that has been plagued with cost overruns and schedule delays. These delays and overruns have further impacted the ability for CBP to spend funds on other critical aspects of the ACE program.)
This is Part I of a multipart series of summaries on the interview and covers the deployment of M1 (e-Manifest: Ocean and Rail). See future issues of ITT for additional topics.
M1 Pilot Has not Started and is “On Hold” due to Contractor Issues
In November 2010, CBP announced plans to pilot M1 in February 2011 and deploy it in spring 2011. In its Federal Register notice requesting applicants to test the M1 pilot, CBP stated that the pilot would commence no earlier than December 22, 2010.
While CBP has received volunteers to participate in the pilot, it has yet to begin. CBP has reached out to several early adopters who have provided data that CBP is testing through an internal environment. However, the pilot is on hold as they are experiencing issues with the M1 programming contractor.
M1 full deployment is currently scheduled for the winter of 2011/2012.
(CBP recently issued a CSMS message regarding minor changes to functionality for ABI developers and filers, which sought additional participants, etc. See ITT’s Online Archives or 02/10/11 news, 11021060, for BP summary.)
CBP Evaluating its Options for M1 Contractors
CBP previously stated that the ultimate goal is the full transition of ocean and rail data transmission to ACE and that this transition would occur no earlier than March 22, 2011.
CBP is currently evaluating its options with its contractor for M1. CBP is disappointed with its current contractor and notes that it is not meeting its expectations. There have been lots of delays, and CBP shares some of the culpability for the delays, but they are still having issues with the contractor.
Although CBP has now negotiated a firm “fixed price” contract with the contractor for finishing programming with M1, it has also issued a Request for Information (RFI) to see if there are other companies that have the capacity and capability to finish M1 programming. CBP is evaluating its options moving forward.
Highlights of Expected M1 Capabilities:
CBP has previously stated that e-Manifest: Ocean and Rail capabilities (M1) will:
- modernize existing rail and sea automated manifest capabilities and transition existing business rules and operational requirements into ACE
- allow trade partners to make updates to container seal information without deleting and resubmitting the entire bill of lading
- enable initiation and resending of manifest transactions 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- provide enhanced visibility of cargo status through new shipment status advisory messages and more detailed hold notifications
- extend the "broker download" feature to ocean and air carriers
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 10/20/10 news, 10102007, for BP summary of CBP’s general notice requesting applicants for the M1 pilot.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 11/12/10 news, 10111201, for BP summary of information on carrier bond functionality to be delivered with M1.)