CBP Issues General Notice that It is Accepting Applications to Establish Truck Carrier Accounts for NCAP Test for ACE

CBP states that truck carriers interested in participating in the testing of electronic truck manifest functionality will be required to have an ACE Truck Carrier Account. CBP adds that in order to be eligible to become an ACE Truck Carrier Account, with access to the ACE Portal for subsequent participation in testing of the electronic truck manifest functionality, the truck carrier must simply have the capability of connecting to the Internet.

According to the general notice, CBP was to begin accepting applications to establish ACE Truck Carrier Accounts starting February 4, 2004. CBP states that this application period will remain open until further notice.

Truck Carrier Account Holders Can Eventually File Information Electronically, Etc.

CBP states that initially, account-holders will only have access to static data and basic Account profile information necessary to establish an account. CBP explains that truck carriers who open ACE Truck Carrier Accounts will eventually have the ability to file truck manifest information electronically via the ACE Secure Data Portal and/or via electronic data interchange (EDI) messaging.

CBP states that eventually participants will derive the following additional benefits:

Access to operational data through the ACE portal;

Electronic interaction with CBP;

Receipt of status messages concerning their Account;

Access to integrated Account data from multiple system sources;

Ability to manage and disseminate information in an efficient and secure manner; and

Ability to electronically transmit the truck manifest and obtain release of their cargo, crew, conveyance, and equipment via the ACE Portal or electronic data interchange (EDI) messaging.

CBP Will Issue Future Federal Register Notice on Participating in NCAP Test

CBP states that upon the issuance of a subsequent notice in the Federal Register that will provide more information on participation in the NCAP test of electronic truck manifest functionality, CBP will deploy an initial group of ACE Truck Carrier Account-holders for participation in the NCAP test.

(CBP notes that it will hold qualifying applications for Truck Carrier Accounts which are not initially approved pending further expansion of the NCAP test of electronic truck manifest functionality. CBP will notify truck carriers of the status of their application.)

Individual Must be Designated to Safeguard ACE Portal Account Information, Etc.

According to CBP, once approved as a Truck Carrier Account-holder, each participant must designate one person as the ACE Portal Account Owner for the information entered into the participant's ACE Portal account. CBP states that the Account Owner will be responsible for safeguarding the ACE Portal account information, controlling all disclosures of that information to authorized persons, authorizing user access to the ACE Portal account, and ensuring that access by authorized persons to the ACE Portal information is strictly controlled.

CBP adds that the participant will also need to identify a point of contact for the testing of communications and software. Truck Carrier Account-holders are further reminded that participation in the automated electronic truck manifest functionality test is not confidential and lists of approved participants will be made available to the public.

Test Participants Will be Required to Take Part in Evaluation of Test

CBP states that to ensure adequate feedback, participants are required to take part in an evaluation of this test. CBP is also inviting all interested parties to comment on the design, conduct, and implementation of the test at any time, with the final results being published in the Federal Register and the CBP Bulletin. See CBP's general notice for evaluation methods and criteria that have been suggested.

(CBP states that this general notice is part of the third ACE release. See ITT's Online Archives or 05/02/02 and 06/19/02 news, 02050205 and 02061905, for BP summaries of other CBP notices on the NCAP test for ACE.)

CBP Contact - Thomas Fitzpatrick (202) 927-0543

CBP general notice (FR Pub 02/04/04) available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-2253.pdf