Photo Credit: CBP Modernization Office

Staff from the CBP Modernization Office performs port visits to ensure ACE will meet the needs of field users.

"Now I know ACE is more than just a re-invention of the Automated Commercial System," says Ted Dluhy, Computer Specialist and LAN trainer, Port of Buffalo. Senior Import Specialist Dan Berger echoed Dluhy's comments: "I'm pleased with how user-friendly it appears to be. Anyone comfortable in a Windows environment-better yet, anyone who can 'point and click'-should instantly experience a reasonable level of success navigating through the system."

The port visits were designed to open lines of communication between the Modernization Office ACE design team and CBP field employees to ensure ACE will meet the needs of field users. The visits also gave employees a glimpse of the benefits ACE will offer.

By experiencing first-hand what a day in the life of an inspector is like, the system designers now have insight on the daily challenges faced by CBP port employees.

Port visits included: Buffalo, N.Y. Detroit and Port Huron, Mich. Otay Mesa, Calif. Laredo, Tex. Blaine, Wash. Champlain, N.Y.

Field employees also received briefings on the modernization project and current plans for ACE, including a projected timeline of upcoming events. The employees found the briefings to be very informative. "Now that I have been briefed on ACE, it is clear that the Modernization Office is developing a system with the employee in mind and that the end product is being designed to accommodate one way of releasing cargo, reporting results and tracking data," said Mark MacVittie, Chief Inspector, Port of Buffalo.

In addition, field employees were given a glance at a web portal demonstration. It shows the CBP workforce what ACE will look like and how it will operate using real life scenarios. After seeing the web portal demonstration, Dan Berger said, "I believe we have a good foundation for the future. I salute the Modernization Office for working with the field, up front, and when the timing of design work is most critical."

The Modernization Office is tapping into the expertise and diverse backgrounds of CBP personnel from across the country. Subject matter experts, who have extensive knowledge of CBP daily operations, have joined the Modernization Office to help design and develop ACE. "In the crucial task of defining what should be done to modernize Customs for the future, subject matter experts act as a source and sounding board for new, creative ideas," said Les Davies, a subject matter expert from the U.S. Customs Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

The ACE system designers performed a site survey to determine the current infrastructure capabilities that need to be taken into consideration during the ACE deployment. During the surveys, members of the ACE design team spoke with inspectors and with the LAN administrator. The design team also toured the facilities to determine what needs to be done to install the new system and what training requirements may be needed.

Specific land border ports were selected for the site visits because they are consistent with the type of port where ACE will be deployed first in 2004. Information gathered during the port visits will be incorporated into the system and used to help the Modernization Office build a user-friendly trade system that better serves all aspects of the CBP.

For questions on ACE and the Modernization initiative, contact the Modernization Office at CMO@customs.treas.gov.