The A.T.F. provides participating Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL) with an electronic interface to more efficiently transfer firearms acquisition & disposition information to the A.T.F., National Tracing Center Division (NTC). FastBound is fully integrated with the NTC Connect system. After executing a cooperative agreement with the A.T.F., the FFL will receive credentials from the NTC Connect team. FastBound will automatically prepare and upload only the necessary firearm data requested to support the NTC Connect Program.
What is NTC Connect?
In accordance with the Gun Control Act of 1968 [18 U.S.C. § 923(g)(7), 27 C.F.R. § 478.25a], a licensee is required to provide firearm trace information immediately and in no event later than 24 hours after receipt of a request from A.T.F. Failure to respond to the request for trace information may result in monetary fines, imprisonment, or revocation of the license.
For high-volume firearm manufacturers, importers, and wholesalers, meeting this federal requirement can be costly and time-consuming, often requiring dedicated resources whose primary role is to respond to requests from the NTC.
As an alternative to the manual process of exchanging information via phone, fax, or email, FFLs who maintain electronic Acquisition and Disposition (A&D) records may opt to participate in the NTC Connect Program.
The NTC Connect System promotes electronic government services as the E-Government Act encourages. The NTC Connect Program provides a secure internet-based user interface, through which authorized NTC personnel can readily conduct a query by serial number only against a participating FFL’s electronic acquisition & disposition record and automatically retrieve the corresponding disposition data (if applicable).
Participation in the NTC Connect Program significantly reduces the FFL’s costs of responding to firearm trace requests providing immediate access to a participant’s firearm data leading to improved response times in completing firearms trace requests for law enforcement agencies engaged in criminal investigations.
