see also: in CBP Import Safety and Other Government Agencies Initiatives:   ITDS Concept of Operations (pdf - 2,348 KB.)   Interagency Import Safety Conference Results in Multi-agency CTAC Memorandum   Updated information on Imports of Wild-Harvest Shrimp from Mexico   Importer Self-Assessment Product Safety Pilot   Bioterrorism on cbp.gov:   ITDS Concept of Operations (pdf - 2,348 KB.)

CBP Announces Release of ITDS Concept of Operations

(11/04/2010)U.S. Customs and Border Protection is pleased to announce the release of the CBP International Trade Data System Concept of Operations, or ConOps.

CBP's Office of International Trade completed and approved the CBP ITDS Concept of Operations, version 1.3, on Jan. 6, 2010. ( ITDS Concept of Operations (pdf - 2,348 KB.) ) This ConOps describes the anticipated future import processes to be used by CBP in the Automated Commercial Environment, or ACE, and addresses the needs of three distinct stakeholder interest groups – CBP, participating government agencies, and Trade:

• CBP’s expressed interest in processes that are efficient and effective to satisfy its dual mission of security and trade facilitation.
• Participating government agencies' expressed interest in processes that enable them to fulfill their missions in the regulation of imports and exports.
• The Trade’s expressed needs for automated, predictable, and uniform business processes leading to the facilitation of compliant trade, and a single system of communication of holds, status, and final release.

It is against this backdrop of operational needs that the business processes in this ConOps were created. It was designed to pave the way for future ACE funding and development and was developed by a CBP Task Force Team under the auspices of the Office of International Trade, and included members actively engaged from the Office of Administration, Office of the Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, Office of Information and Technology, and Office of Intelligence and Operations Coordination.

Members of the Trade and representatives of Participating Government Agencies also participated in several review sessions to capture their input and include them in the ConOps process.

The benefits from these processes can be generally categorized as addressing automation of processes, integration with other agencies and the Trade, and communication among the stakeholders. This document is the first step towards achieving the concept most notably known as the automated “single window.”

For additional information, please contact Susan Dyszel at (202) 863-6211.