CUSTOMS DELAYS ACE CONTRACT BID

CUSTOMS DELAYS ACE CONTRACT BID    U.S. Customs’ plans to seek an outside firm to build its future computer system have been delayed until the agency receives a firm commitment on development funds from Congress.
   Customs wants to use the services of a private-sector systems developer to build its Automated Commercial Environment. The agency had planned to release its “Request for Proposals for Customs Modernization” on Oct. 13.
   The agency said it “intends to release the solicitation as soon as possible once the funding issue is resolved and will provide additional information as soon as it is available.”
   In the proposed Treasury-Postal Appropriation bill for fiscal 2001, Customs would receive $130 million to begin building ACE. But the Senate rejected the bill, because it did not contain enough funding to restructure the Internal Revenue Service, build new courthouses and enhance antiterrorism programs.
   Many of the Appropriation bill’s provisions, such as the Customs automation funding, may have to be included in a year-end resolution.