CSMS Message: 99-001003

TO: ALL ABI FILERS

FROM: OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY

SUBJECT: YEAR 2000 REPORTING PROCEDURES

IN RESPONSE TO THE YEAR 2000 CHALLENGE, THE UNITED STATES CUSTOMS
SERVICE HAS MADE ALL NECESSARY PROGRAMMING CHANGES AND TESTED ALL
COMPUTERIZED SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT OUR KEY BUSINESS PROCESSES WITH
THE TRADE COMMUNITY AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. IN AN EFFORT
TO RESPOND SWIFTLY AND ACCURATELY TO YEAR 2000 ISSUES, THE CUSTOMS
SERVICE HAS IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF REPORTING PROCEDURES TO ASSIST
THE TRADE COMMUNITY DURING THIS CRITICAL TIME.

THIS ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE SETS FORTH THE REPORTING PROCEDURES
FOR YEAR 2000 RELATED ISSUES.

(1) PLEASE FOLLOW EXISTING PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING PROBLEMS FOR
THE FOLLOWING DATES:

-NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 30, 1999 AND
-ON OR AFTER JANUARY 2, 2000

DURING CORE BUSINESS HOURS, PROBLEMS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO
DESIGNATED CLIENT REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES.
OUTSIDE CORE BUSINESS HOURS, REPORT PROBLEMS TO THE CUSTOMS
HELP DESK AT (800) 927-8729 OR (703) 921-6000.

(2) ON DECEMBER 31, 1999 AND JANUARY 1, 2000, CALLS WILL BE
CATEGORIZED INTO TWO AREAS:

- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
- SYSTEM RELATED PROBLEMS

REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION:

IF A MEMBER OF THE TRADE COMMUNITY SEEKS INFORMATION ON THE STATUS
OF CUSTOMS OPERATING SYSTEMS OR HAS OTHER GENERAL YEAR 2000 RELATED
QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL THE FOLLOWING NUMBER: (703) 921-6501.

THE CUSTOMS SERVICE OPERATORS WILL ROUTE THE CALLS TO ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT PERSONNEL WHO WILL RECORD THE INFORMATION AND SEND THE
REQUEST TO THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTER (ERC) STAFF FOR RESPONSE.
THE STAFF WILL RESPOND TO EACH CALL WITHIN TWO (2) HOURS FROM THE
TIME THAT IT IS RECEIVED.

SYSTEM RELATED PROBLEMS:

WHEN A TRADING PARTNER EXPERIENCES A SYSTEMS RELATED PROBLEM THAT
IS BELIEVED TO BE A RESULT OF THE YEAR 2000, PLEASE CALL THE
CUSTOMS HELP DESK AT THE PHONE NUMBERS REFERENCED ABOVE. THE
HELP DESK WILL AUTOMATICALLY ROUTE THE CALL TO THE CUSTOMS ERC.
THE ERC WILL LOG THE CALL, ASSIGN A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT TO
TROUBLESHOOT AND RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, AND WILL COMMUNICATE THE
RESOLUTION OF THAT PROBLEM BACK TO THE AFFECTED TRADING PARTNER.

THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ON DUTY DURING
THIS PERIOD TO HANDLE ANY TYPE OF TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE.
THESE EXPERTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE SCOPE AND IMPACT OF THE
REPORTED PROBLEM. GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE CALLER CAN EXPECT A RESPONSE
WITHIN ONE HOUR TO NOTIFY THEM THAT THE PROBLEM IS BEING WORKED ON.

PLEASE ASSIST THE CUSTOMS SERVICE BY DISSEMINATING THIS INFORMATION
THROUGHOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND BY ASKING YOUR STAFF TO ENSURE
THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION TO BE READY FOR THE ROLLOVER
TO THE NEW MILLENNIUM. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS
ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DESIGNATED CLIENT
REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE.

JANET PENCE
CHIEF, CLIENT REPRESENTATIVE BRANCH
U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE

Referenced By

CSMS #99-001094