PROCESS #1:
Application With National FTZ Board
1. Complete the FTZ #176 Intake Form
2. GRAA to send application fee to contact provided
3. FTZ #176 to request concurrence letter from CBP
4. Upon receipt of responses to step 1 and application fee, the application will be submitted to the Greater Rockford Airport Authority to provide a consent resolution at their next board meeting. To get your application on the agenda, responses to step #1 need to be submitted to FTZ #176 by the Friday prior to the board meeting, the application fee must be paid by the board meeting date. Click here for GRAA Board Meeting Dates.
5. Upon receipt of the GRAA consent resolution and CBP Concurrence, application package will be sent to the National FTZ Board. The National FTZ Board will respond to the application within 30-days.
6. Upon receipt of approval from the National FTZ Board, FTZ #176 will send you:
I. Invoice for the activation fee
II. Template Operators Agreement – an agreement with the GRAA required for activation (can be sent earlier if needed for preliminary legal review)
III. Grantee concurrence letter for activation (upon receipt of activation fee & executed operators agreement)
PROCESS #2:
Activation With Customs & Border Protection
While an activation request cannot be submitted to CBP until Process #1 is complete, much time will be needed to aggregate the below materials. FTZ#176 recommends enlisting a preferred consultant (e.g. customs broker or attorney) to begin compiling the following items concurrently with your completion of Process #1.
1. Concurrently work to compile an activation package for submission to CBP; the activation package should include the following documents, in addition to other documents that may be requested by customs depending on your unique situation (verify all needed documents with your consultant or attorney):
I. Activation request letter
II. Grantee Concurrence Letter (provided at completion of Process #1 and GRAA receipt of activation fee)
III. Firms Code Request letter
IV. Schematic of building for activation space agreement
V. Blanket 216
VI. Drivers Licenses for Key Employees
VII. Completed CBP form 3078 for Key Employees
VIII. Complete Employee List (at proposed FTZ)
IX. Comprehensive FTZ manual and SOP
X. Security SOP
XI. Warehouse SOPs
o Cycle Counts
o Receiving
o Shipping
o Safety/Incident reporting
XII. Secure an FTZ Operators Bond (this can take time, begin process to secure as soon as possible)
XIII. Sign and return the template Operators Agreement with the GRAA. This will need to be approved for execution at a GRAA Board meeting, you can see the full meeting schedule at flyrfd.com.
2. Submit a package with the above information to the CBP Office at the Greater Rockford Airport Authority. Information should be compiled and clearly tabbed to identify each section of information. Hard copies of the request for activation will need to be hand-delivered to the CBP Office.
3. Security Tour with CBP – the CBP Officer will contact you to schedule a security tour.
4. Upon satisfaction of CBP’s questions and requests during the security tour, CBP will issue an activation letter with a FIRMS code.
