Three months after Customs announced that it had abandoned efforts to develop an automated processing system with Grosvenor International Systems, the British programmer, four companies have been shortlisted to start the project from scratch.

Bermuda Computer Services, the Island's IBM agent, Independent Consulting Solutions, Logic Communications and Trade Point Systems LLC of Nashua, New Hampshire were named in a June 12 shortlist by Government's Computer Systems & Services Department, which put the project out to bid on Customs' behalf May 10. Ten companies responded, including many local companies in partnership with foreign corporations, according to Peter Smith, CSSD's system and programming manager.

"We will be getting further demos of their product and asking specific questions over the next two weeks," Mr. Smith said. "We will have a chance to talk to them face to face."

A sub committee will recommend a bidder to a steering committee, which includes the Collector of Customs, Winifred Fostine-DeSilva.

The Customs Automated Processing System (CAPS) is intended to speed up customs clearing of imports. The modernisation project began in June 1999 and Grosvenor's product was originally scheduled to launch in September 2000. It was delayed until November 2001, but when Grosvenor could not meet that deadline because of problems with the accounting component of the system, Customs decided to abandon the contract.

According to the CSSD website, the new system is expected to be operational by February of next year, in time for the new financial year.

In April, Government chose QuoVadis to provide digital certificates for the system, which will eliminate paperwork for certain high-volume importers who will be able to sign customs declarations electronically.