United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Accounting and Information Management Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1997-05-15 monographic deposited born digital 9 p. GA 1.13:T-AIMD-97-96 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-AIMD-97-96 P0b002ee180386cb4 f:ai97096t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-T-AIMD-97-96 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-AIMD-97-96 T-AIMD-97-96 Customs administration Systems conversions Inspection Importing Information resources management Strategic information systems planning Requirements definition Accountability Systems design ADP procurement Customs Service Automated Commercial Environment Import System Customs Service Automated Commercial System Customs Service National Customs Automation Program Customs Service Distributed Computing for the Year 2000 Project Testimony AIMD GAO discussed issues related to the U.S. Customs Service's systems modernization, focusing on: (1) Customs' efforts to address risks associated with the agency's modernization of its automated systems; and (2) challenges Customs faces as it plans and develops the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) System.<p/>GAO noted that: (1) in May 1996, Customs was ill-prepared to develop ACE because the agency was not effectively applying critical management practices that help organizations mitigate the risks associated with modernizing automated systems and better position themselves to achieve success; (2) consequently, efforts to successfully develop ACE were vulnerable to failure; (3) because GAO found that clear accountability for meeting National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) requirements was lacking, GAO recommended that Customs assign such responsibility; (4) Customs acted quickly by assigning overall, policy-level responsibility for implementing NCAP to the Trade Compliance Board of Directors and day-to-day responsibility for implementing NCAP to the Assistant Commissioner, Office of Information and Technology; (5) because the remaining three recommendations call for significant changes in long-standing management practices, they will require Customs leadership's sustained commitment and focus; (6) GAO recommended that Customs identify and analyze how it will conduct its future business before selecting the information systems architecture; (7) Customs changed the CDC-2000 project to emphasize conducting analyses of business requirements prior to selecting an architecture; (8) Customs hired a contractor in January 1997 that is expected to conduct these analyses and recommend a process for selecting an architecture in June 1997; (9) GAO recommended that Customs manage information technology systems as investments; (10) in April 1997, Customs specifically tasked a contractor to assist with the development, implementation, and institutionalization of a complete information technology investment management process; (11) as of early May 1997, Customs officials told GAO that the contractor's work will be completed and the investment process will be in place in July 1997; (12) GAO recommended that Customs ensure that the agency adhere to its own policies for developing information systems; (13) Customs updated these policies to include new provisions on software project planning and project management; (14) as of early May 1997, Customs had revised the ACE project plan and Customs officials told GAO that the revised project plan complies with their system development policies; (15) Customs also faces a number of challenges in planning and implementing the ACE project itself that wil* https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-AIMD-97-96/html/GAOREPORTS-T-AIMD-97-96.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-AIMD-97-96/pdf/GAOREPORTS-T-AIMD-97-96.pdf GAO/T-AIMD-97-96 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-AIMD-97-96 Testimony GAO/T-AIMD-97-96; Customs Service Modernization: ACE Poses Risks and Challenges; Customs administration Systems conversions Inspection Importing Information resources management Strategic information systems planning Requirements definition Accountability Systems design ADP procurement Customs Service Automated Commercial Environment Import System Customs Service Automated Commercial System Customs Service National Customs Automation Program Customs Service Distributed Computing for the Year 2000 Project