CBP Discusses August 25th Deployment of ESAR A1 at ACE Exchange VI Conference

This is Part I of a multi-part series of summaries on CBP's presentations at the ACE Exchange VI conference and provides highlights on the discussion regarding ESAR A1. See future issues of ITT for additional summaries.

(Note that A1 does not mandate the use of ACE. CBP sources state that brokers and filers will still use the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) to file transactions. The purpose of A1 is to expand ACE access, enhance what is already available via the ACE Portal, and set the stage for future capabilities.)

ACE to Become System of Record for Certain Data Bases, CBP Field Personnel Already Being Trained

On August 25, 2007, ESAR A1 is scheduled to be deployed nationwide to all end users simultaneously and become the new system of record for master data elements required by any CBP system, such as country codes, port codes, etc.

CBP officials state that CBP will maintain a trained help and support desk team for post go-live (deployment) activities, and CBP field personnel have already begun their training for A1.

Continuous Bond Information Will be Available via ACE

According to CBP officials, once A1 is deployed, all continuous bonds (not just activity code type 1 continuous bonds) will be input into ACE by the Revenue Division in Indianapolis, and ACE will become the system of record for continuous bonds.

CBP sources add that not all continuous bonds are to be submitted to the Revenue Division. The Revenue Division only processes activity type 1 bonds; all other types of continuous bonds are to be submitted to the local port for processing. Sources add that after the port completes its evaluation of the bond and approves it, it will be sent to the Revenue Division for a final check, and the bond information will then be input into ACE.

Account Types Expanded from 3 to 11

Previously, ACE accounts were only available to certain members of the trade (brokers, certain carriers, and importers). However, with A1, CBP is expanding ACE to include the following account types (highlights of capabilities accessible via the ACE Portal listed):

Broker - With A1, for the first time, brokers will be able to electronically maintain their license and permit qualifiers, etc. Also, brokers can use ACE to maintain employee lists, which would satisfy the requirements in 19 CFR.

Carrier (all modes - air, rail, and sea) - Among other things, carriers will be able to search for and relate existing driver records to the carrier account using key data.

Cartman

Driver/crew - Drivers will be able to relate to multiple carriers and will no longer be required to be entered as a "one-time driver" when they work for a company other than the one for which their data was originally stored in ACE.

Facility operator - Facility operators will be able to store and view electronic pertinent documents on the facility (e.g., blueprints, operations manuals).

Filer

Foreign trade zone (FTZ) - CBP officials noted that CBP Form 214 data and information regarding withdrawals will not be available with the deployment of A1; however, CBP would like to eventually have such information viewable in ACE.

Importer - An importer will be able to view blanket licenses, permits, and certificates (LPCs) or forms from Participating Government Agencies (PGAs)² at an account, not single transaction, level. Officials noted that the broker will not be able to see this field unless the importer gives them access to their account.

Lighterman

Service provider

Surety - Among other things, sureties will be able to view continuous bond data.

Historical Master Account Data to be Available to Account Holders

When A1 is deployed, the ACE Portal will be updated to include a "Change History Tab," which will allow account holders to view master account data for the holder. This data will include when changes are made to the account, the data field that changed, what it was changed from and to, who changed the data field, the time and date it was changed, etc.

Multiple Reference Files to be Available in ACE

Multiple reference files will be available in ACE when A1 is deployed, such as the port table, the gold rate (also known as the "Gold File"), country code table, etc.

¹ESAR A1 is currently scheduled to be deployed on August 25, 2007 (from August 11, 2007). Trade testing of the ABI application identifiers KI (bond query) and TI (CBP Form 5106 add/update) that are to be routed to the ACE System for processing when A1 is deployed became available July 25, 2007. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/26/07 news, 07072605, for BP summary announcing that testing was available. See ITT's Online Archives or 07/10/07 news, 07071005, for BP summary announcing that A1 deployment had been delayed.)

²Currently, the following PGAs will be involved in the LPC aspect of A1 (to varying degrees): Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF&E); Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS); Animal and Health Plant Inspection Service (APHIS); Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS); Foreign Trade Zones Board; Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

(See ITT's Online Archives or 08/06/07 news, 07080610, for BP summary announcing that CBP has updated its ACE Web-based training to include a course on ESAR A1.)

CBP ACE Exchange VI ESAR A1 presentation available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/ace/reports_briefings_events/ace_ex_conf/ace_exch_conf/ace_exvi_conf_present/ace_account_rev.ctt/ace_account_rev.ppt

BP Note

According to CBP, ESAR will provide enhanced account management functions, a single source for master data, and an integrated account-based, financial, and entry summary processing system. CBP has divided ESAR into three releases (A1, A2, and A3). CBP officials note that some functionality may be deployed in between the three releases.

(Trade sources have previously stated that entry preparers and filers will need to prepare for the substantial changes coming with ESAR A2 (which is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2008 or later), and that its byword should be "reautomate or perish" in light of the reautomation and, in some cases, redesign of the entry process which will occur with ESAR A2.)