Notice2022-14556
Notice of Request for Information (RFI) Inviting Input About New Online Accounting, Filing, and Reporting Database for the Refined Sugar Re-Export Program, the Sugar Containing Products Re-Export Program, and the Polyhydric Alcohol Program
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Published
July 8, 2022
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentForeign Agricultural Service
Abstract
The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is building a new online system to manage the Refined Sugar Re-Export Program, the Sugar Containing Products Re-Export Program, and the Polyhydric Alcohol Program (hereinafter "the Sugar Re-Export Programs") to replace the existing Sugars Users Group Accounting and Report System (SUGARS), launched in 2004. This request for information (RFI) seeks input regarding the new online system from all stakeholders involved directly or indirectly in the Sugar Re-Export Programs. This stakeholder input will inform FAS' efforts in developing a new, more efficient system to provide quality service to program users.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 130 (Friday, July 8, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 130 (Friday, July 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40779-40780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14556]
[[Page 40779]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
Notice of Request for Information (RFI) Inviting Input About New
Online Accounting, Filing, and Reporting Database for the Refined Sugar
Re-Export Program, the Sugar Containing Products Re-Export Program, and
the Polyhydric Alcohol Program
AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.
ACTION: Request for information.
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SUMMARY: The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture is building a new online system to manage the Refined
Sugar Re-Export Program, the Sugar Containing Products Re-Export
Program, and the Polyhydric Alcohol Program (hereinafter ``the Sugar
Re-Export Programs'') to replace the existing Sugars Users Group
Accounting and Report System (SUGARS), launched in 2004. This request
for information (RFI) seeks input regarding the new online system from
all stakeholders involved directly or indirectly in the Sugar Re-Export
Programs. This stakeholder input will inform FAS' efforts in developing
a new, more efficient system to provide quality service to program
users.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 8, 2022 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: USDA invites submission of the requested information through
one of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
<bullet> Email: FAS will accept electronic submissions emailed to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#410700126f12342620333201343225206f262e37"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b3f5f2e09de0c6d4d2c1c0f3c6c0d7d29dd4dcc5">[email protected]</span></a>. The email should contain the subject line,
``Response to RFI: New Online Accounting, Filing, and Reporting
Database for the Refined Sugar Re-Export Program, the Sugar Containing
Products Re-Export Program, and the Polyhydric Alcohol Program.''
Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. All comments
submitted in response to this RFI will be included in the record and
will be made available to the public. Please be advised that the
substance of the comments and the identity of the individuals or
entities submitting the comments will be subject to public disclosure.
USDA will make the comments publicly available via <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Janis, International
Economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural
Service, telephone 202-720-2194, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d7919684f984a2b0b6a5a497a2a4b3b6f9b0b8a1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e2a4a3b1ccb19785839091a297918683cc858d94">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
FAS administers and manages three inter-related programs in the
sugar market: the Refined Sugar Re-Export Program, the Sugar Containing
Products Re-Export Program, and the Polyhydric Alcohol Program (see 7
CFR part 1530). FAS issues licenses to qualified sugar refiners,
manufacturers of sugar-containing products (SCP), and producers of
polyhydric alcohol not for human consumption which apply for these
programs.
The Refined Sugar Re-Export Program provides a raw cane sugar
refiner a license that authorizes three types of activities. First, a
refiner with a refined sugar re-export license (``licensed refiner'')
may import low-duty raw cane sugar, refine it, and re-export it to the
world market. Second, the licensed refiner may export refined sugar
produced with domestic or imported raw cane or beet sugar and later
import low-duty raw cane sugar for any use. Third, the licensed refiner
may import low-duty raw cane sugar for refining for any use and
transfer refined sugar produced with domestic or imported raw cane or
beet sugar to licensed U.S. manufacturers of sugar-containing products
and/or licensed producers of polyhydric alcohol for non-food purposes.
U.S. manufacturers in the Sugar-Containing Products Re-Export
Program obtain a license allowing them to buy world-priced refined cane
or beet sugar from any licensed domestic cane or beet refiner for use
in exported products.
U.S. producers of polyhydric alcohols in the Polyhydric Alcohol
Program obtain a license allowing them to buy world-priced refined cane
or beet sugar from any licensed domestic cane or beet refiner for use
in polyhydric alcohols, except polyhydric alcohols incorporated as a
substitute for sugar in human food consumption.
An in-house FAS online system called SUGARS currently serves to
organize the many program transactions among the three sets of
licensees. The interactions of exports, imports, transfers, and use
resemble the workings of an online checking account. Documents must
substantiate each stage of these program transactions.
Refiners manage their licenses using exports, imports, and
transfers. Exports pertain to refined sugar shipped outside the United
States. Imports reference raw cane sugar entering the United States.
Transfers mean refined sugar sold to licensed SCP manufacturers and
producers of polyhydric alcohol not for human consumption. Refiners
increase their balances in tonnage by exporting refined sugar and
selling refined sugar to licensed makers of SCPs and producers of
polyhydric alcohol not for human consumption. Both of these
transactions with SCP and polyhydric alcohol manufacturers qualify as
transfers for the parties involved.
SCP licensees accumulate quantities in their accounts by claiming
exports of their goods. Specifically, these amounts include only the
net weight of sugar in the exported products. From their balances, SCP
licensees may purchase world-priced refined sugar from licensed
refiners. These transfers may not exceed the balances of SCP license
holders.
Companies with polyhydric alcohol licenses report their use of
refined sugar to produce polyhydric alcohol not for human consumption.
They build their balances and may buy world-priced sugar from licensed
refiners. These transfers may not exceed the balances of companies with
polyhydric alcohol licenses.
A new system is being constructed to replace the existing SUGARS,
which dates to 2004. The new system will be highly automated, better
protected, and more streamlined. FAS envisions a more thoroughly
encrypted seamless approach for transmitting and verifying data that
operates like an online checking account.
Request for Information
A new system must accomplish the following objectives:
1. Help to enforce the terms and conditions of issued licenses
under 7 CFR part 1530.
2. Be intuitive and user-friendly for licensees.
3. Provide licensees maximum access to their proprietary data.
4. Integrate fully the component parts of a license.
5. Allow for publication of aggregated, non-proprietary data.
6. Permit FAS to access and compile data needed for resolving
issues.
7. Serve as a portal for interested parties to apply for licenses.
As the system remains in development, this RFI is a general
solicitation for public input from all stakeholders involved directly
or indirectly in the Sugar Re-export Programs. This stakeholder input
will inform efforts to build a system to operate more efficiently and
provide quality service to program users.
Specific questions to which responses are requested are listed
below. Respondents may provide non-
[[Page 40780]]
confidential input concerning any or all of these questions. In
addition, this representative list does not cover all aspects of a new
system to replace SUGARS. Therefore, we welcome other input on topics
not covered in these questions. In particular, please provide any
additional recommendations related to achieving the seven objectives
noted above.
1. Should the new system continue the current SUGARS structure
resembling an online checking account? For example: Exports for SCP
licensees and use for polyhydric alcohol licensees count as deposits.
Meanwhile, purchases of program sugar from licensed refiners qualify as
withdrawals. In turn, refiners rely on their balances of exports,
imports, and transfers to enter low-duty imports of raw cane sugar.
2. SUGARS currently requires licensees to use a spreadsheet tool to
upload data to their accounts. After receiving and reviewing the
uploaded information, FAS transmits by email to licensees their balance
information. FAS envisions a new, more thoroughly encrypted seamless
approach for communicating this data, like an online checking account.
What features are needed in a new system to allow licensees and FAS to
more easily and more securely transmit, verify and access data?
3. The new system could be created to permit each licensee complete
access to data and license documents provided by the licensee to FAS
without having to obtain permission from FAS, such as the original
application package. These documents could be stored for a number of
years in the licensee's account in the new system. Please share your
perspectives on this matter.
4. In what ways could or should the new system allow or require
licensees to upload supporting documents for each program transaction?
5. Should the license application process be incorporated into the
new system?
6. What other features, if any, should the new system include to
improve program operations?
Any information obtained from this RFI is intended to be used by
the Government on a non-attribution basis for planning and developing a
successor system to SUGARS. This RFI does not constitute a formal
solicitation for proposals or abstracts. Your response to this notice
will be treated as information only. FAS will not reimburse any costs
incurred in responding to this RFI. Respondents are advised that FAS is
under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received
or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information
submitted under this RFI. Responses to this RFI do not bind FAS to any
further actions related to this topic. Responses will become government
property.
No confidential information, such as confidential business
information or proprietary information, should be submitted in comments
for this RFI. Comments received in response to this notice will be a
matter of public record and will be made available for public
inspection and posted without change and as received, including any
business information or personal information provided in the comments,
such as names and addresses. Please do not include anything in your
comment submission that you do not wish to share with the general
public.
Aileen Mannix,
Acting Licensing Authority, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-14556 Filed 7-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P
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