ITDS Board Issues Annual Report to Congress on ACE Implementation, Etc.
The fiscal year 2010 report to Congress on the International Trade Data System has is now posted to the ITDS website. This report includes information on the 1) status of ITDS implementation; 2) extent of participation in ITDS by other Federal agencies; 3) remaining barriers to any agencies participation; 4) consistency with the World Customs Organization; 5) recommendations for technological and other improvements to the ITDS; and 6) status of development, implementation and management of ACE within CBP.
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(ITDS is not a separate computer system but consists of functionality being built and funded through the ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) project, a modernization and expansion of automated systems for processing imports and exports operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).)
ITDS Intended to Eliminate Redundant Reporting and Help ID Risk
According to the report, the goal of the ITDS is to eliminate redundant reporting by creating a “single-window” system, replacing multiple filings, many of which are on paper, with a single electronic filing. Relevant data will be distributed electronically to the appropriate agencies, providing agencies with the ability to process that data electronically.
In addition to reducing costs for business and government by eliminating redundant reporting and systems, ITDS intends to enhance agencies’ ability to identify risky cargo, persons, and conveyances, will collect trade data that are more accurate, complete, and timely, and will speed cargo processing.
Report Makes Recommendations on Data Elements, DIS, AES, Etc.
In its report, the ITDS Board makes the following four recommendations for the development of ACE/ITDS:
Complete 3 projects w/current funds. Using ITDS funding already available, CBP should finish work by the end of fiscal year 2011 on the three priority projects listed below. Completing this work quickly will accelerate interagency cooperation and provide immediate benefits to both the government and the private sector.
These three projects and progress to date are as follows:
- CBP immediately add data elements required by other agencies to the major import reporting messages (manifest, entry, entry summary). ITDS notes that significant progress has been made on this project.
- CBP should develop the capability to accept transmission of “imaged” forms (such as .tif or .pdf files), known as the document imaging system (DIS). Such forms are currently submitted on paper. ITDS notes that substantial progress has been made on this project.
- CBP should complete its plans for ITDS and make decisions related to the technical interoperability with other agencies’ systems, in order to allow other agencies to continue with their plans for using ITDS and investing in automated systems to work with ACE/ITDS. ITDS notes that CBP has completed work on its Concept of Operations (ConOps) for operating in the ITDS framework. Adequate progress has been made toward establishing and testing standards for exchanging data between systems.
ACE cargo release. CBP should complete the necessary work for the ACE Cargo Release business case by the spring of 2011.
Enhance AES for ITDS agencies. By the summer of 2011, CBP, Census, and other appropriate agencies should examine the potential for enhancing the Automated Export System to provide functionality for additional ITDS agencies, including a detailed examination of ITDS agencies export requirements. Introducing enhancements to these systems could have minimal impact on ongoing work in the import systems.
(ITDS notes that to date, relatively little work has been done on ITDS export functionality.)
Make CBP data available w/o waiting for ACE. CBP should use the functionality developed for system-to-system communication to make data CBP already collects available to other ITDS agencies. This will enable agencies to obtain data that supports their mission objectives without waiting for further deployment of additional ACE functionality.
Report Says Focus Should be on the 3 Priority Steps, Cargo Release, and M1
The immediate ITDS goal will continue to be the three priority steps to implement basic ITDS infrastructure (add data elements to CBP messages, implement imaging capability, and testing data transfer between systems). At the same time, work on validating Cargo Release and entry related requirements will continue. Several ITDS agencies will also be involved in the user testing and deployment of e-Manifest: Ocean and Rail (M1).
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 12/28/10 news, 10122820, for BP summary of a CBP official discussing the DIS during a webinar.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 02/14/11 news, 11021424, for BP summary of CBP putting M1 pilot “on hold” due to contractor issues.
See ITT's Online Archives or 02/25/11 news, 11022521, for BP summary of CBP's FY 2010 progress with ACE, etc.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 12/28/10 news, 10122822, for BP summary of ITDS’ final rule on supplementing HTS codes with global product numbers/codes.)