CBP Discusses ACE and ITDS at Recent Trade Symposium
During its recent Trade Symposium, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) held a panel discussion on the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and the International Trade Data System (ITDS).
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ACE Deployment Scheduled for Completion in 2011
CBP states that it now estimates completion of ACE development in 2010, with deployment scheduled for completion in 2011.
CBP's 2005 Goals for ACE
During this panel discussion, CBP officials also listed the following 2005 goals for ACE:
- increase account participation
- deploy ACE Release 4 and eManifest for Truck Cargo
- expand participation in ITDS
- continue the trade/government engagement in ACE Release 5
- implement the Screening and Targeting foundational capabilities and link them to a Multi-Modal Manifest (MMM)
2005 - 2010 ACE Development/Deployment Schedule
During the panel discussion, CBP officials also outlined the future ACE development/deployment schedule, highlights of which include:
Release 5 - Account Revenue and Secure Trade Data - FY 05-07. Release 5 concentrates on post-release processing, with new Account Management, Revenue, and Entry Summary functionality, building on the features in ACE Release 3. Release 5 requirements workshops are currently in progress with the Trade Ambassadors and over 70 representatives from the ITDS partner agencies.
Release 6 - E-Manifest: All Modes and Cargo Security - FY 07-09. Release 6 completes the cargo management process by adding full entry processing and cargo release functionality, tied to a completed MMM. CBP is starting work on the MMM now, so it can use this integrated data in concert with its new targeting functions and in preparation for the cargo release capabilities in Release 6.
Release 7 - Exports and Cargo Control - FY 09-10. Release 7 provides the remaining ACE functionality, including foreign trade zone and warehouse support, export processing, and Importer Account Summary Statement (IASS), and a number of other functions.
ACE Screening and Targeting Functions
CBP notes that it has augmented the above ACE Release schedule with the following new set of comprehensive Screening and Targeting functions which have been integrated into the ACE Program Plan so that CBP can provide cargo security support in parallel with the implementation of ACE cargo and trade processing releases:
S1 - Screening Foundation - FY 04-05. S1 establishes the long-term foundation for modernizing screening and targeting. CBP is implementing a state-of-the-art business rules engine to enhance screening capabilities for manifest/entry transactions. This new rules engine is already being used to support targeting of truck cargo for ACE Release 4.
S2 - Targeting Foundation - FY 05-06. S2 implements the Border Targeting and Analysis (BTA) portal and extends the screening functionality on entry summary, setting the stage for the subsequent release.
S3 - Advanced Targeting - FY 05-07. S3 completes the risk management circle. It provides capabilities for initial risk identification, modeling, profiling, and mitigation design functionality. It closes the findings feedback loop and delivers a consolidated findings repository for analyzing and evaluating criteria.
S4 - Full Screening and Targeting - FY 07-09. S4 completes the Screening and Targeting platform using a robust set of integrated tools that allow modernized capabilities for proactive, preemptive security measures. This release completes screening and targeting functionality to provide full functionality for all modes of transportation and all transactions within the cargo management lifecycle.
ACE/ITDS panel summary available at
ACE /ITDS panel PowerPoint presentation available at