The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is new and unfamiliar to most of us. The good news is that there is a wealth of information available to ease the transition.
• Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has a lot of helpful information on its website: http://www.cbp.gov/trade/automated
• ABI representatives are available to help, and there is a daily ACE daily technical call. Just dial:
1-877-336-1828 or 404-443-6396
PC 6124214
Here at QuestaWeb we daily receive questions from our customers. Knowing that you might share the same concerns, we thought it would be helpful to share some of the more frequently asked questions and our responses:
Q: I have an entry with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) data. What should I do?
A: FCC is not participating in ACE at this time. Any entry that has FCC data – or any other government agencies (OGA) – should be sent as an ACE Summary /ACS Release, as you have been doing up to this point. Please contact a QuestaWeb representative for detailed guidance.
Q: What If an entry requires both FCC and Federal Drug Administration (FDA) data?
A: FCC is not participating in ACE. Any entry that requires FCC and another OGA is sent as an ACE Summary/ACS Release, as you have been doing up to this point. Please contact a QuestaWeb representative for detailed guidance.
Q: Is there a new screen for partner government agencies (PGA) or were new fields added?
A: There is a whole new screen for PGA data elements. Please contact a QuestaWeb representative for detailed guidance.
Q: How do I make corrections to the Bill of Lading?
A: The Simplified Entry Transaction manual details how here.
Q: How about cancelling or deleting entries?
A: Again, the Simplified Entry Transaction manual covers this subject here.
Q: How do I Remote Location Filing (RLF) entries?
A: RLF entries are a cargo release–dependent item. In the ACE Summary /ACS Release send AII as you would normally. With the ACE Summary /ACE Release, there is no AII. Here, you need to send commercial invoices via the Document Imaging System (DIS).
Q: Why or where is the Intended Use Table?
A: ACE stipulates that Intended Use codes be employed. They are used throughout PGA transactions. To locate a code, open the Lookups/ACE tab in your QuestaWeb system or go to the CBP website.
Q: What is Stand-Alone ACE PGA and how is it used?
A: It is used for doing PGA before the entry is sent. Think FDA prior notice standalone.
Q: What is Single Transaction Bonds and how is it used?
A: This function is only used if you have integration with a surety to purchase bonds via the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Most filers/brokers purchase bonds through a surety web portal and do not use this function.