CBP Issues its Request for Proposal for a Global Trade Exchange Pilot

The details of the government's vision for the GTX pilot are outlined in a document entitled "Statement of Work - Global Trade Exchange Pilot," highlights of which are provided below:

Government Vision for the GTX

Privately operated and user-fee based. GTX is envisioned as a privately operated, self-sustaining (e.g. user-fee based) trade information system that would collect commercial transaction data not currently availablefrom supply chain parties who have contracted or provided services for the production/movement of international shipments.

GTX would allow the trade and government to input and access trade data through an information broker on an expanded global basis. Data maintained by the GTX broker would be available to participating customs agencies 24 hours/7 days in the appropriate technical format.

Minimum 6-month pilot. The GTX pilot would be required to be fully operational for at least six months within the initial base period (i.e., one calendar year after the date of the contract being awarded).

Real-time access to data. GTX would be housed on the contractor's secure system at their facility. During the operation of GTX, various governmental, domestic, international trading partners, as well as commercial entities would have real-time access to the data.

Currently unavailable data. For CBP purposes, GTX would be used exclusively to provide it with access to key transactional (and ultimately historical) data elements currently unavailable to CBP to enhance CBP tactical and strategic targeting and pattern analysis capabilities. GTX would enhance CBP pre and post-arrival targeting/analysis efforts and enrich data currently available to CBP by regulation or statue.

Requirements for a GTX System

The contractor shall design, develop, operate and maintain a GTX system that will (partial list):

Collect, integrate, transform, display and transmit data from:

• Commercial supply chain data, not currently available to CBP (e.g., purchase orders, fulfillment schedules and invoices), and may include Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) status messages from Container Security Devices (CSDs);
• Vessel transponder data; and,
• Other information regarding production management records, inventory records and advance ship notices from foreign suppliers that the GTX pilot contractor may identify as useful.

Have up to 10 trade participants providing supply chain data regularly (hourly, daily).

(The participants shall include shippers and carriers. Other industry types shall be discussed before being included as part of the required (up to 10) participants. The contractor shall identify and have signed agreements with participants such that not less than 100 transactions are available for one of the following trade regions: European Union (EU), Pacific Rim, and Middle East.

The contractor shall ensure a minimum of 1,200 fused supply chain data transactions are available within the period of performance for each signed and identified participant. Each GTX industry participant shall provide data associated with at least 100 import or export transactions per month.)

GTX data shall include all applicable modes of transportation including sea, air, rail, and truck for the regions identified above for relevant supply chains.

Identify at least 3 foreign government GTX participants. The contractor shall identify non-U.S. government customs agencies to participate in the GTX pilot for one of the following trade regions: EU, Pacific Rim, and Middle East.

Coordinate with all supply chain parties providing information to GTX, and establish and maintain all necessary communications and interfaces.

Comply with applicable U.S. and foreign privacy and security requirements and statutes.

Develop practices and procedures, participant agreements, and technology for the retention and protection of collected data.

Provide unlimited access to data for CBP at no cost to the agency during the pilot, and at no cost and with no access limitations to any system resulting from the GTX pilot.

Fuse available participant supply chain data from the point of the initiation of the commercial transaction through the logistics and financial components to the final consumer destination and acceptance of the cargo and closure of the financial obligation ("End-to-End Supply Chain Data Coverage").

GTX data shall be accessed in accordance with CBP security and privacy provisions in a manner such that it is available to any commercial and government entity with standard web browser technology. The data shall include the capability to download any or all of the data per the user role.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 11/28/07 news, 07112810, for BP summary of the discussion of GTX at the November 2007 COAC meeting.

See ITT's Online Archives or 11/20/07 news, 07112005, for BP summary of the DHS Secretary's speech on GTX and other security initiatives at CBP's Annual Trade Symposium.)

CBP press release on GTX (dated 01/04/08) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/secure_freight_initiative/sfi_notices/global_trade.xml.

GTX Statement of Work availablefromBP by emailing documents@brokerpower.com.