Notice2022-03180
Imaging Technology Solutions for the Inspection of Milled Rice
Primary source
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Published
February 15, 2022
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is inviting manufacturers of automated imaging instrumentation to partner in cooperative research and development efforts to determine broken kernels, whole kernels, and milling yield, in percentage by mass, in short-, medium-, and long- grain milled rice. The goal is to develop a commercially available instrument that can be used in providing official inspection results at AMS field offices and official service provider locations. Manufacturers must be willing to enter into a cooperative research and development agreement that includes mutually agreed upon roles and responsibilities, providing a suitable instrument, and providing technical expertise to facilitate the development of algorithms and/or calibrations. AMS will provide the rice samples and inspection expertise necessary to facilitate method development efforts and assess whether the instrument is fit for the intended purpose.
Full Text
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8559-8560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03180]
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Notices
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 31 / Tuesday, February 15, 2022 /
Notices
[[Page 8559]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc No. AMS-FGIS-21-0088]
Imaging Technology Solutions for the Inspection of Milled Rice
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA)
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is inviting manufacturers of
automated imaging instrumentation to partner in cooperative research
and development efforts to determine broken kernels, whole kernels, and
milling yield, in percentage by mass, in short-, medium-, and long-
grain milled rice. The goal is to develop a commercially available
instrument that can be used in providing official inspection results at
AMS field offices and official service provider locations.
Manufacturers must be willing to enter into a cooperative research and
development agreement that includes mutually agreed upon roles and
responsibilities, providing a suitable instrument, and providing
technical expertise to facilitate the development of algorithms and/or
calibrations. AMS will provide the rice samples and inspection
expertise necessary to facilitate method development efforts and assess
whether the instrument is fit for the intended purpose.
DATES: Proposals are due by April 18, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit proposals to:
Timothy D. Norden, Chief Scientist, Technology and Science Division,
Federal Grain Inspection Service, AMS, USDA at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#22764b4f4d564a5b0c660c6c4d5046474c62575146430c454d54"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="36625f5b59425e4f187218785944525358764345525718515940">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy D. Norden, Chief Scientist,
Technology and Science Division, Federal Grain Inspection Service, AMS,
USDA, 816-702-3803, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e1b5888c8e958998cfa5cfaf8e9385848fa194928580cf868e97"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="386c5155574c5041167c1676574a5c5d56784d4b5c59165f574e">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the Agricultural
Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), as amended, AMS establishes
quality and grade standards, and provides inspection services for
milled and rough rice. The determination of broken kernels in rice is
important in the inspection and grading of rice. A broken kernel is
defined as any kernel that is less than three-fourths the length of a
whole kernel. For the inspection of rough rice, the whole kernel
milling yield is the percentage by mass of whole kernels in the total
rice after milling. The total rice includes whole and broken kernels.
For the inspection of milled rice, the percentage by mass of broken
kernels, expressed as percentage by mass of total rice, is an important
grade-determining factor. A comprehensive information on the grading
and inspection of rice, including the assessment of broken and whole
kernels in milled rice, can be found in the Rice Inspection Handbook at
<a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/RiceHB.pdf">https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/RiceHB.pdf</a>.
California produces the largest volume of medium grain rice for
export markets. AMS official inspection locations, in California, rely
on an imaging instrument for official inspection results. However, the
manufacturer discontinued this imaging instrument over 10 years ago and
no longer provides parts or technical support. As a result, official
rice inspection, in California, could be impacted, if the instrument
was to become damaged or unusable; it could lead to an increase in time
and cost for inspecting rice in the State.
AMS is inviting manufacturers of automated imaging instrumentation
to partner in development efforts to determine broken kernels, whole
kernels, and milling yield, in percentage by mass, in short-, medium-,
and long-grain milled rice. Manufacturers must be willing to enter into
a cooperative research and development agreement that includes mutually
agreed upon roles and responsibilities, providing a suitable
instrument, and providing technical expertise to facilitate the
development of algorithms and/or calibrations. AMS will provide the
rice samples and inspection expertise necessary to help develop the
solution and determine if it is fit for the intended purpose. To meet
official inspection requirements and be deemed fit for purpose,
instruments must have the capability of providing results for short-,
medium-, and long-grain milled rice, in a total sample size of 40-50
grams, with a testing time of ten minutes or less. In addition, the
instrument must ultimately deliver results that are as accurate as
current official inspection results.
Manufacturers must provide a proposal that includes a description
of the instrument and its current capabilities for analyzing broken
kernels, whole kernels, and milling yield, in percentage by mass, in
milled rice as defined in the Rice Inspection Handbook. The proposal
should also address each selection factor as given in Table 1. AMS
intends to select the top two instruments that demonstrate the greatest
potential for successful development and implementation by summing the
scores for the selection factors given in Table 1. Manufacturers who
submit proposals will be notified directly when the selections are
finalized. Selection and agreement to participate in the cooperative
research and development process does not hold any obligation to future
procurement.
[[Page 8560]]
Table 1--Selection Factor Scores
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Score
Selection factor --------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 point 2 points 3 points
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Current capability for broken and One rice type (i.e., Two rice types (i.e., Capability for short-,
whole kernels in milled rice in long-grain only). short- and medium- medium-, and long-
percentage by mass. grain). grain milled rice.
Total testing time................... 8-10 minutes........... 5-7 minutes............ 1-4 minutes.
Test sample size..................... 25 g or greater in a ....................... 40 g or greater in a
single analysis. single analysis.
Sample presentation.................. Dependent on user ....................... Independent of user
technique *. technique *.
Ability to update algorithm and/or Requires manufacturer User updateable, but User updateable with
calibration. cooperation and requires special user-friendly tools
expertise. training and/or available.
programming.
Instrumentation...................... Shared cost for Loan of one instrument Loan of two instruments
duration of project. for duration of for duration of
project. project.
Manufacturer development resources... Will provide tools and Will provide expertise Will provide expertise
training for and resources needed and resources needed
development efforts. with 3- to 6-week with 1- to 2-week
turnaround on requests. turnaround on
requests.
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* The way the sample is presented to the instrument by the operator can influence the results.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Melissa R. Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-03180 Filed 2-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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