CBP Releases its June 30, 2004 Quarterly Report to Congress on ACE
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently posted to its Web site its quarterly report on the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) entitled Report to Congress: the Automated Commercial Environment. This report is dated June 30, 2004 and covers the period from April 1, 2004 through June 30, 2004.
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CBP states that this report provides a "snapshot" of current program status, highlighting recent accomplishments, challenges, and near-term milestones.
This is Part I of a multi-part series of summaries on CBP's June 30, 2004 report and provides highlights of CBP's efforts to resolve outstanding audit recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). See future issues of ITT for additional summaries.
GAO Recommendation - Use ACE Infrastructure to Support Other Homeland Security Applications.
GAO has recommended that CBP take appropriate steps to have future ACE expenditure plans specifically address proposals or plans to extend or use ACE infrastructure to support other homeland security functions.
In its June 30, 2004 report, CBP states that its Modernization Office is closely coordinating with DHS counterparts to ensure appropriate program integration, plan for future environments, share resources and lessons learned, and leverage economies of scale on infrastructure investment.
CBP also states that its Modernization Office has included DHS representatives in program management reviews and the development of program expenditure plans, and recently added representatives from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate to the Modernization Executive Steering Committee. CBP states that the leadership from its Modernization Office and US-VISIT program offices continue to coordinate on lessons learned, best practices, and opportunities for collaboration.
GAO Recommendation - Reconsider the ACE Acquisition Schedule and Cost Estimates in Light of Past Release Problems
GAO has recommended that CBP reconsider the ACE acquisition schedule and cost estimates in light of early release problems, including the early releases' cascading effect on future releases and their relatively small size compared to later releases; and in light of the need to avoid past levels of concurrency among activities within and between releases.
In its June 30, 2004 report, CBP states that the updated ACE Program Plan will reflect a significant change in the overall rollout schedule, and both the cost and schedule will align with the Fiscal Year 2005 President's budget.
The net effects will be less design concurrency for ACE release, and much better synergy among the design, development and deployment of the cargo shipment lifecycle processes, and the national security features and functions provided by the selectivity and targeting capabilities and tools. CBP states that the recently completed Global Business Blueprinting (GBB) will provide the basis for better definition of the remaining releases, and greater confidence in the new cost and schedule for the ACE program.
GAO Recommendation - Define Measures and Use Metrics to Determine Whether Program Management Improvements are Successful
GAO has recommended that CBP define measures, and collect and use associated metrics, for determining whether prior and future program management improvements are successful.
In its June 30, 2004 report, CBP states that a new metrics plan currently under review incorporates new metrics, as well as draws upon selected current metrics, to enable performance analysis through a balanced scorecard.
GAO Recommendation - Human Capital Management
GAO has recommended that CBP immediately develop and implement a CBP Modernization Office human capital management strategy.
CBP states in its June 30, 2004 report that ongoing human capital management initiatives and activities include (partial list):
Modernization staffing plan. The modernization staffing plan is in its final review stage and describes the total number of personnel required for the CBP Modernization Office, including new positions, and how those positions will be staffed. CBP notes that its Modernization Office has begun recruitment efforts.
Job analysis. CBP's Position Responsibility Document, combined with the standard position description, will fully define each position and establish a foundation for recruitment, selection, and performance management.
CBP's June 30, 2004 quarterly report (CBPMO-RPRT-012) available at