[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 130 (Friday, July 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40779-40780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14556]



[[Page 40779]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Email: FAS will accept electronic submissions emailed to 
[email protected]. 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 http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Janis, International 
Economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural 
Service, telephone 202-720-2194, email [email protected].

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