The Academy is not a competitor to or a replacement for the SCA College of Arms. Part of its purpose is to provide assistance to submitters before they send in a submission, so that the quality of submissions will be increased and the number of submissions that bounce will be reduced. Senior members of the College of Arms are not specifically responsible for consulting, and the Academy is an attempt to increase the number of experienced heralds who are available to the populace.
For more information, you can read our members' guide.