CBP Updates Useful "Comprehensive" ACE Overview

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 08/31/11 news, 11083119, for initial BP summary.)

Goals of ACE

CBP states that ACE is intended to be the technology foundation for all border security initiatives within CBP and will:

• Allow trade participants access to and management of their trade information via reports;
• Expedite legitimate trade by providing CBP with tools to efficiently process imports/exports and move goods quickly across the border;
• Improve communication, collaboration and compliance efforts between CBP and the trade community;
• Facilitate efficient collection, processing and analysis of commercial import and export data; and
• Provide an information-sharing platform for trade data throughout government agencies.

ACE Secure Data Portal

According to CBP, the ACE Secure Data Portal is an interactive, on-line tool that provides a single gateway to access CBP information via the Internet. The portal has three major user groups: CBP; the trade community; and participating government agencies (PGAs). The portal currently offers each account user a near-real time review of CBP entry, entry summary and manifest data; secure account creation and assignment of user access privileges; an account-based view; and the ability to post information track and/or respond to CBP on compliance and operational issues. Approximately 20,000 ACE portal accounts have been established.

Account Management Capabilities

ACE portal accounts are created based on the company’s organizational structure and provide a national account-based view of company information. CBP states that existing tools are available to assist users better manage their account, including single sign-on for multiple accounts and restriction of individual user access within the account.

Reports Capabilities: Over 125 Report Forms Can Be Downloaded

According to CBP, the ACE Portal now has over 125 downloadable reports available. All reports can be customized and tailored for each user. The four types of reports available are: standard reports; modified reports; customized reports; and authorized data extract.

Revenue Capabilities: Users Can Pay Monthly

CBP states that Periodic Monthly Statement (PMS) processing was introduced in June 2004 and permits users to consolidate periodic daily statements on a monthly basis. PMS benefits include:

• Providing additional flexibility in management of working capital required for duty payments and potentially significant cash flow advantages;
• Allowing importer/filers to pay for a given month on one statement;
• Streamlining accounting and reporting processes;
• Allowing the filer to select either a national or a port statement;
• Allowing the broker to pay on behalf of the importer;
• Shifting from a single transaction payment process to an interest-free monthly statement; and
• Permitting users to see the PMS as it is being built during the month. (According to CBP sources, 55% of all duties and fees are collected each month with PMS in both ACE and ACS.)

Cargo Control and Release Capabilities Reduce Processing Time at Ports

The ACE Truck Manifest System (e-Manifest) is the approved electronic data interchange for the transmission of advanced electronic cargo information for truck carriers. Since 2004, e-Manifest has been deployed to all 99 land border ports.

ACE e-Manifest Truck benefits include:

• Enabling carriers to comply with the advance cargo rule;
• Reducing processing time at ports and increasing the likelihood that trucks will be released at primary booth;
• Storing conveyance, crew, equipment, shipper, and consignee information in an account, thus reducing the amount of information submitted with each crossing;
• Tracking the status of crew, equipment, and shipments;
• Enabling users to request in-bond moves directly from the manifest;
• Reporting arrival of in-bond freight via ACE when shipments arrive at their U.S. destination;
• Sending copies of shipment records to the customhouse broker;
• Receiving "entry on file" messages in ACE when the customhouse broker files entries;
• Linking driver’s account information to their truck carrier account; thereby eliminating the need to create a duplicate record of the driver’s account information in each carrier account; and
• Creating customized reports to evaluate and identify compliance issues and risks.

In addition, with transponder technology, ACE can now identify trucks/drivers from a distance and activate the retrieval of manifest and entry data for CBP officers.

CBP Delivers Code for e-Manifest Rail and Sea

In August 2011, CBP states that it delivered the code for e-Manifest Rail and Sea (M1), which includes the following features:

• Validation of trade partner authorization to use custodial bonds to be maintained by the trade;
• Extension of ‘broker download’ functionality into the sea cargo environment;
• An increase in the number of Secondary Notify Parties to 25;
• Notification to carriers as to which PGA has held the shipment;
• Ability for CBP to place and remove holds at the container level;
• Ability to create and maintain ocean conveyance records via the ACE portal;
• Retirement of ACS vessel and rail manifest processing;
• Access to new portal accounts such as manifest, bill of landing, and in-bond; and
• Ability to share reports with other users within the ACE portal account.

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 08/29/11 news and 08/02/11 news, 11082909, for BP summary of new ACE capabilities, and 11080154, for BP summary of CBP stating it expects to turn off ACS ocean and rail manifests (so that only M1 is available) by July 2012.)

Entry Summary Processing Capabilities

Entry Summary, Accounts and Revenue (ESAR) capabilities provide enhanced account management functions, a single source for master data and an integrated account-based, financial and entry summary processing system. CBP states that ESAR capabilities are being deployed in phases.

September 9, 2007: CBP deployed the first ESAR capabilities, known as Master Data and Enhanced Accounts (A1). Since that time, ACE has been the system of record for most master data elements required by any CBP system. The creation and maintenance of all master data elements and related reference files originate in ACE and are distributed to other CBP systems, such as the Automated Commercial System (ACS). With the deployment of A1, CBP has encouraged almost all entities engaged in international trade to establish an ACE portal account.

April 11, 2009: CBP introduced enhanced ESAR capabilities (A2.2) to include:

· Initial entry summary process in ACE for type 01 and 11 entries;

· Improved ACE portal navigation;

· New and enhanced ACE reports;

· Ability for importers and CBP to initiate inquiries and receive responses to CBP Forms 28, 29 and 4647;

· Ability for the trade to post blanket declaration records for CBP to view nationwide; and

· A new process by which the trade can electronically correct Census warnings.

January 17, 2010: CBP deployed capabilities in the ESAR release (A2.3.1a) that provide new Portal and EDI capabilities specific to the filing and processing of AD/CVD entries (type 03 entries) and AD/CVD case management, as well as other enhancements. Benefits include:

· Ability to search, display and print both AD/CVD case information and AD/CVD messages;

· Ability to track the life cycle of an AD/CVD case;

· Access to important case information such as the duty deposit rates, entry summary suspension status, bond / cash status, administrative review information and events related to the case history;

· Access to additional useful information in one easy location such as additional header data elements and ability to run searches within the portal;

· Ability to view and respond to CBP Forms 28, 29 and 4647 via the portal for all entry summaries (both ACS and ACE) for importers with an ACE portal account who select “portal” as their mode of communication;

· Ability for brokers with an ACE portal account to create declaration records for their non-portal accounts. (Brokers with clients possessing their own importer portal accounts however, will not be able to create declaration records on behalf of those clients. Brokers will have to be granted access as a “user” on the importer’s portal account in order to create the declaration records);

· Ability for EDI trade participants to file entry summaries electronically in ACE for entry types 03 using a better organized, more descriptive ACE ABI CATAIR (Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements) document. Filers will also have the ability to run an ABI query of AD/CVD case information.

· Access to new and enhanced portal reports to include AD/CVD entry summary data.

October 31, 2010: CBP introduced enhancements to ACE capabilities related to ESAR that provided new portal and EDI capabilities.

June 4, 2011: CBP says Post Summary Correction (PSC) capabilities of the A2.3.2.a release were delivered June 4, 2011, allowing trade participants to submit a correction via Automated Broker Interface (ABI) for an existing type 01 and 03 ACE entry summary if the correction meets the PSC criteria. The PSC replaces the existing Post Entry Amendment (PEA) hardcopy process for ACE entry summaries. There is no limit to the number of corrections at the header and/or line level. An authorized ACE entry summary filer may submit a post summary correction for an ACE entry summary originally submitted by another ACE entry summary filer if authorized by the same importer of record. Benefits of the A2.3.2.a release deployed on October 31, 2010 and the PSC functionality delivered in June 4, 2011 include:

• A revised ACE Entry Summary Query for ABI filers;
• Additional information in Entry Summary status notifications;
• New and clearer reject codes when ACE entry summaries are rejected by an Import Specialist;
• Changes to the Entry Summary Universe; and
• Elimination of paper corrections for ACE entry summaries, types 01 and 03.

July 13, 2011: CBP introduced a link from the ACE portal to the Importer Security Filing (ISF) for importer, broker, carrier and surety account types. Current and future benefits include:

• Importers who file infrequently will be allowed to file and track 12 or fewer ISFs annually through the ISF Portal and be able to query the status of their ISF by transaction number and bill of lading number;
• Importers will have access to the progress reports that they currently receive via email;
• Progress reports will also be available for Filers and Sureties.
• In the future, users will also be able to query the status of their ISF by transaction number and bill of lading number;
• In the future C-TPAT Tier 3 importers will have access to ISF transaction reporting capabilities;
• Access to the ATS ISF Portal will be controlled by the TAO. The TAO will also have the ability to grant Cross Account Access to the ATS ISF Portal.

Other Future ACE Capabilities

CBP also plans:

• Cargo Release as the next major piece of ACE functionality to be deployed. (CBP has worked with the PGAs and the trade community to revalidate previously gathered requirements, map them to the ITDS Concept of Operations resulting in a complete set of stakeholder requirements for Cargo Release.)
• Future capabilities of Entry Summary, Accounts and Revenue (ESAR) that will include account enhancements, reference data, and new business process functionality related to post release and finance processes.
• Future releases of Cargo Control and Release (CCR) to allow CBP to provide technical updates to refresh remodel and create a true multi-modal manifest (MMM) application.

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 08/31/11 news, 11083113, for BP summary of additional information on ACE & ITDS projects discussed at the August 2011 COAC meeting.)