• To : Automated Broker Interface
Subject: Time is Running Out! We Need to Hear from You!
Attention ABI Software Developers: 

The deadline to transition to ACE is only 27 business 
days away.   ACS for ocean and rail functionality will be decommissioned on September 29, 2012.  This decommissioning includes the ABI in-bond functionality for ocean, rail, and truck.  This date is firm and any transactions sent in after that date that do not conform to the ACE message formats will fail.    

If you have not already transitioned to ACE, please review your business plan to insure that you will have completed the software testing and be ready to transition no later than September 29, 2012.  

ABI software developers who have not already done so should immediately contact your Client Representative to provide them with the date that you will transition your clients to ACE.  

PLEASE DO NOT DELAY!  

CBP has dealt with a number of companies who have made the transition to ACE and have found that they needed to make coding changes to their software. Because they have completed their migration in a timely manner, they have had the time to make these changes.  

The Client Representatives are currently very busy migrating companies to ACE.  Anyone waiting until the last weeks to complete their migration to ACE may find that their Client Representative resources are strained which could impact the timing of the transition.

CBP previously issued numerous Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) messages on the transition to ACE e-Manifest: Rail and Sea.

You can access these messages by clicking on the following link:  http://apps.cbp.gov/csms/csms.asp?page=1&btype=abi

If you are not currently subscribed to the CSMS, please take a minute to subscribe by going to http://apps.cbp.gov/csms/csms.asp?display_page=1

These messages provide valuable information about system availability and future changes.