OT:RR:CTF:VS H090115 ARU
Mr. Stuart P. Seidel
Baker & McKenzie LLP
815 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006-4078, USA
RE: U.S. Government Procurement; Title III, Trade Agreements Act of 1979
(19 U.S.C. § 2511); Subpart B, Part 177, CBP Regulations; Avaya Unified Communications Solution (“Communication Manager”)
Dear Mr. Seidel:
This is in response to your letter dated December 29, 2009, requesting a final determination on behalf of Avaya Inc. ("Avaya"), pursuant to subpart B of part 177, Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") Regulations (19 C.F.R. § 177.21 et seq.). Pursuant to our request, you provided additional information during a meeting on March 5, 2010.
Under the pertinent regulations, which implement Title III of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 2511 et seq.), CBP issues country of origin advisory rulings and final determinations as to whether an article is or would be a product of a designated country or instrumentality for the purpose of granting waivers of certain "Buy American" restrictions in U.S. law or practice for products offered for sale to the U.S. Government.
This final determination concerns the country of origin of an Avaya Unified Communications Solution known as “Communication Manager.” We note that Avaya is a party-at-interest within the meaning of 19 C.F.R. § 177.22(d)(1) and is entitled to request this final determination. In addition, we have reviewed and granted the importer’s request for confidentiality pursuant to section 177.2(b)(7) of the Customs Regulations chapter 19, with respect to certain information submitted.
FACTS:
The end product at issue is a Unified Communications Solution which is made up of numerous electronic components that are assembled and integrated at an end user’s premises in the United States using software known as “Communication Manager.” Communication Manager is the IP telephony software foundation on which Avaya delivers unified communications to large and small enterprises. It can control and expand a system from fewer than 100 users to as many as 36,000 users on a single system to more than one million users on a single network. You state that the programming, assembly and installation of a system will typically take approximately one month to complete.
It is stated that Communication Manager adds functionality to certain individual components and changes functionality of other components. Although each installation at an end user’s premises is different, due to the end user’s needs, each system will consist of at least the following components: server, media gateways, circuit packs, and internet protocol (“IP”) telephone sets. Avaya’s Communication Manager software is developed and tested exclusively by Avaya in Denver, Colorado. Communication Manager is designed to run on a variety of Linux-based media servers. Linux is an open source operating system. Communication Manager provides centralized call control for a resilient, distributed network of media gateways and a wide range of analog, digital, and IP-based communication devices. It also has several advanced built-in applications, including mobility applications, call center features, advanced conference calling, and enhanced emergency 9-1-1 capabilities. Communication Manager is the foundation for building complete enterprise communication networks by supporting SIP, H.323, and other industry-standard communications protocols over a variety of different networks. This protocol support provides centralized voice mail, attendant operations, and call centers across multiple locations.
Hardware
Media Servers: Each Communication Solution consists of one or more media servers. Some servers are in the form of blades. These are cards (similar to printed circuit cards with components) that are fit or assembled into Media Gateways, while others are standalone units.
Media Gateways: You describe three models of Media Gateways.
G250 Media Gateway: a powerful branch communication solution that packs an IP telephony gateway, an advanced IP WAN router, a VPN gateway and a high-performance LAN switch into a compact, 2U high 19” rack unit.
G350 Media Gateway: a powerful converged networking solution that packs an IP telephony gateway, an advanced IP WAN router, a VPN Gateway, and a high-performance LAN switch into a compact (3U) modular chassis.
G450 Media Gateway: consists of a 3U high, 19” rack mountable chassis with field-removable Supervisor Main Board Module, Power Supplies, Fan Tray, DSP resources and memory.
Circuit Packs: A circuit pack, also known as a circuit card, circuit board, or printed circuit, is an electronic circuit consisting of one or more electronic components arranged on a substrate board or card with one of more conductive layers laminated on one or more insulating layers. The electronic components on the circuit pack can be inserted into holes or surface mounted on conductive pads using various alloys of metal called solder. Such circuit packs usually leave one or more connectors to integrate them into the system of which they are a part. Avaya’s circuit packs are not stand-alone devices. They are inserted as components to Avaya’s Media Gateway units. Avaya offers two types of circuit packs – a “TN” card and an “MM” card. TN circuit packs are based on older technology for use in legacy telephony systems, also called Telephone Interface Cards. MM circuit packs are based on newer technology, also called Media Modules.
Telephone Sets: Internet Protocol (“IP”) telephones that before integration through Communication Manager have no functionality.
Software
You claim that the integration of the individual components is achieved through the use of software called Communication Manager, which adds functionality to certain individual components and changes functionality of the other components. Avaya’s Communication Manager software is developed and tested exclusively by Avaya in Denver, Colorado. Avaya began development of Communication Manager in 2002 and since that time has spent significant resources in the development and maintenance of Communication Manager. All the engineering, development, and design were developed in the United States; however, a small percentage of the ongoing software development takes place abroad.
Assembly
Operations in China:
There are 6 main subassemblies that compose the Communication Manager solution. Subassemblies made in China include: Gateways, Servers, Media Modules, Telsets, and Circuit Packs. The hardware listed above is manufactured in China. The raw components for the hardware are obtained from various countries throughout Asia and Europe. Certain gateways are also manufactured in Israel and other countries, but will eventually be manufactured in China.
Operations in the United States:
All the engineering, development, design were developed in the United States. Communication Manager will be installed onto a solid state drive or hard drive residing on the server. It will be custom configured at the end user’s facility or another location in the United States to integrate the various components. Although each installation at an end user’s premises is different, due to the end user’s needs, each system will consist of at least the following components: server, media gateways, circuit packs, and IP telephone sets. Once actual installation begins, approximately five (5) days is needed to customize the Communication Manager software for the end user. A total of 11 days is required to assemble the necessary equipment, install the hardware, and integrate the hardware and software. The complex installation and integration requires both adjustments to hardware and customized software programming. You claim that due to the number of components assembled, number of different operations, time, skill level required, attention to detail, quality control, the value added to the Communication Manager, and the overall employment complexity in development of the software, the hardware is substantially transformed when the software is added and the system is integrated.
ISSUE:
What is the country of origin of Communication Manager Units for purposes of U.S. Government procurement?
LAW AND ANALYSIS:
Pursuant to subpart B of Part 177, 19 C.F.R. § 177.21 et seq., which implements Title III of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as amended (“TAA”; 19 U.S.C. § 2511 et seq.), CBP issues country of origin advisory rulings and final determinations on whether an article is or would be a product of a designated country or instrumentality for the purposes of granting waivers of certain “Buy American” restrictions in U.S. law or practice for products offered for sale to the U.S. Government.
Under the rule of origin set forth at 19 U.S.C. § 2518(4)(B):
An article is a product of a country or instrumentality only if (i) it is wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of that country or instrumentality, or (ii) in the case of an article which consists in whole or in part of materials from another country or instrumentality, it has been substantially transformed into a new and different article of commerce with a name, character, or use distinct from that of the article or articles from which it was so transformed.
See also, 19 C.F.R. § 177.22(a).
In rendering advisory rulings and final determinations for purposes of U.S. Government procurement, CBP applies the provisions of subpart B of Part 177 consistent with the Federal Procurement Regulations. See 19 C.F.R. § 177.21. In this regard, CBP recognizes that the Federal Procurement Regulations restrict the U.S. Government’s purchase of products to U.S.-made or designated country end products for acquisitions subject to the TAA. See 48 C.F.R. § 25.403(c)(1).
The Federal Acquisition Regulations define "U.S.-made end product" as:
an article that is mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States or that is substantially transformed in the United States into a new and different article of commerce with a name, character, or use distinct from that of the article or articles from which it was transformed. 48 C.F.R. § 25.003.
In order to determine whether a substantial transformation occurs when components of various origins are assembled to form completed articles, CBP considers the totality of the circumstances and makes such decisions on a case-by-case basis. The country of origin of the article’s components, the extent of the processing that occurs within a given country, and whether such processing renders a product with a new name, character, and use are primary considerations in such cases. Additionally, facts such as resources expended on product design and development, extent and nature of post-assembly inspection procedures, and worker skill required during the actual manufacturing process will be considered when analyzing whether a substantial transformation has occurred; however, no one such factor is determinative.
With respect to the product under consideration in the instant case, we note that CBP has not previously considered whether the components at issue are substantially transformed when brought together in the manner set forth above. However, CBP has considered whether components of various origins have been substantially transformed during the assembly of related products. Though such rulings may not be directly on point with the facts under consideration in the instant case, the guidance supplied by such cases may nonetheless be applied to resolve the issues presently before us. The determination will be in this instance “a mixed question of technology and customs law, mostly the latter.” Texas Instruments, Inc. v. United States, 681 F.2d 778, 783 (C.C.P.A. 1982).
You claim that, “[i]n … rulings involving hardware which lacked the functional ‘intelligence’ characteristics present in the completed product, and where the firmware/software provided the merchandise’s functionality, CBP determined that the products were substantially transformed into products of the country where the software which provided its functionality was installed and final testing occurred.” We disagree with the scope of this statement. While the location of the software installation and testing is one factor to be considered, it is not the sole determinant. The country in which the software development takes place is also relevant.
In Data General v. United States, 4 CIT 182 (1982), the court determined that for purposes of determining eligibility under item 807.00, Tariff Schedules of the United States, the programming of a foreign PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory chip) substantially transformed the PROM into a U.S. article. In programming the imported PROMs, the U.S. engineers systematically caused various distinct electronic interconnections to be formed within each integrated circuit. The programming bestowed upon each circuit its electronic function. That is, its “memory” which could be retrieved. A distinct physical change was effected in the PROM by the opening or closing of the fuses, depending on the method of programming. This physical alteration, not visible to the naked eye, could be discerned by electronic testing of the PROM. The court noted that the programs were designed by a project engineer with many years of experience in “designing and building hardware.” While replicating the program pattern from a “master” PROM may be a quick one-step process, the development of the pattern and the production of the “master” PROM required much time and expertise. The court noted that it was undisputed that programming alters the character of a PROM. The essence of the article, its interconnections or stored memory, was established by programming. The court concluded that altering the non-functioning circuitry comprising a PROM through technological expertise in order to produce a functioning read only memory device possessing a desired distinctive circuit pattern was no less a "substantial transformation" than the manual interconnection of transistors, resistors and diodes upon a circuit board creating a similar pattern.
In C.S.D. 84-86, CBP stated:
We are of the opinion that the rationale of the court in the Data General case may be applied in the present case to support the principle that the essence of an integrated circuit memory storage device is established by programming . . . . [W]e are of the opinion that the programming (or reprogramming) of an EPROM results in a new and different article of commerce which would be considered to be a product of the country where the programming or reprogramming takes place.
Accordingly, the programming of a device that changes or defines its use generally constitutes substantial transformation. See also HQ 733085, dated July 13, 1990; and HQ 558868, dated February 23, 1995 (programming of SecureID Card substantially transforms the card because it gives the card its character and use as part of a security system and the programming is a permanent change that cannot be undone); HQ 735027, dated September 7, 1993 (programming blank media (EEPROM) with instructions on it that allows it to perform certain functions of preventing piracy of software constituted substantial transformation); but see HQ 732870, dated March 19, 1990 (formatting a blank diskette did not constitute substantial transformation because it did not add value, did not involve complex or highly technical operations and did not create a new or different product); HQ 734518, dated June 28, 1993 (concluding that motherboards were not substantially transformed by the implanting of the central processing unit on the board because, whereas in Data General use was being assigned to the PROM, the use of the motherboard had already been determined when the importer imported it).
In HQ 563012, dated May 4, 2004, CBP considered whether components of various origins were substantially transformed when assembled to form a fabric switch which involved a combination of computer hardware and software. Most of the assembly of computer hardware was performed in China. Then, in either Hong Kong or the U.S., the hardware was completed and the U.S.-origin software was downloaded onto the hardware. CBP noted that the U.S.-developed software provided the finished product with its "distinctive functional characteristics." In making the determination that the product was substantially transformed in the United States, where the fabric switch was assembled to completion, CBP considered both the assembly process that occurred in the United States and the configuration operations that required U.S.-origin software. In the scenario where the fabric switch was assembled to completion in Hong Kong, CBP determined the origin for marking purposes was Hong Kong.
In HQ 559255, dated August 21, 1995, a device referred to as a “CardDock” was under consideration for country of origin marking purposes. The CardDock was a device which was installed in IBM PC compatible computers. After installation, the units were able to accept PCMCIA cards for the purpose of interfacing such PCMCIA cards with the computer in which the CardDock unit was installed. The CardDock units were partially assembled abroad but completed in the United States. The overseas processing included manufacturing the product’s injection molded plastic frame and installing integrated circuits onto a circuit board along with various diodes, resistors and capacitors. After such operations, these items were shipped to the United States for further processing that included mating a U.S.-origin circuit board to the foreign-origin frame and board. The assembled units were thereafter subjected to various testing procedures. In consideration of the foregoing, CBP held that the foreign-origin components, i.e., the ISA boards, frame assemblies and connector cables, were substantially transformed when assembled to completion in the United States. In finding that the name, character, and use of the foreign-origin components had changed during processing in the United States, CBP noted that the components had lost their separate identity during assembly and had become an integral part of a new and distinct item which was visibly different from any of the individual foreign-origin components.
In HQ 735027, dated September 7, 1993, a device that software companies used to protect their software from piracy was under consideration for country of origin marking purposes. The device, referred to as the “MemoPlug,” was assembled in Israel from parts that were obtained from Taiwan (such as various connectors and an Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory, or “EEPROM”) and Israel (such as an internal circuit board). After assembly, these components were shipped to a processing facility in the United States where the EEPROM was programmed with special software. Such processing in the United States accounted for approximately 50 percent of the final selling price of the MemoPlugs. In finding that the foreign-origin components were substantially transformed in the United States, CBP noted that the U.S. processing transformed a blank media, the EEPROM, into a device that performed functions necessary to the prevention of software piracy.
We make our determinations based on the totality of the circumstances. Here, we take particular note of the fact that the installation of the Communication Manager software adds functionality to certain individual components and changes functionality of other components. This software is developed and tested exclusively by Avaya in Denver, Colorado. Avaya began development of Communication Manager in 2002 and since that time has spent
significant resources in the development and maintenance of the software. In addition, assembly and installation of the hardware components that make up the Avaya Communication Solution will typically take approximately one month to complete and are performed in the United States. While the subassemblies are manufactured in China and Israel, all of the initial engineering, development, and design were developed in the United States.
Based upon the above precedents and the totality of the circumstances, we find that the there is a substantial transformation of the component parts in the United States, the location where the final assembly and installation of the hardware as well as the application of the Communication Manager software occur. It follows that we find the country of origin for government procurement purposes is the United States.
HOLDING:
Based on the facts provided, the assembly, installation, and programming operations performed in the United States impart the essential character to Communication Manager. As such, Communication Manager will be considered a product of the United States for the purpose of government procurement.
Notice of this final determination will be given in the Federal Register as required by 19 C.F.R. § 177.29. Any party-at-interest other than the party which requested this final determination may request, pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 177.31, that CBP reexamine the matter anew and issue a new final determination. Any party-at-interest may, within 30 days after publication of the Federal Register notice referenced above, seek judicial review of this final determination before the Court of International Trade.
Sincerely,
Sandra L. Bell, Executive Director
Regulations and Rulings
Office of International Trade