Imaging Technology Solutions for the Inspection of Milled Rice, 8559-8560 [2022-03180]
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8559
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 87, No. 31
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc No. AMS–FGIS–21–0088]
Imaging Technology Solutions for the
Inspection of Milled Rice
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.
AGENCY:
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.
SUMMARY:
DATES:
Proposals are due by April 18,
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2022.
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Interested persons are
invited to submit proposals to: Timothy
D. Norden, Chief Scientist, Technology
and Science Division, Federal Grain
Inspection Service, AMS, USDA at
Timothy.D.Norden@usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Timothy D. Norden, Chief Scientist,
Technology and Science Division,
Federal Grain Inspection Service, AMS,
USDA, 816–702–3803,
Timothy.D.Norden@usda.gov.
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 https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/
default/files/media/RiceHB.pdf.
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
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 longgrain 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.
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8560
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 31 / Tuesday, February 15, 2022 / Notices
TABLE 1—SELECTION FACTOR SCORES
Score
Selection factor
1 point
Current capability for broken and
whole kernels in milled rice in
percentage by mass.
Total testing time ...........................
Test sample size ............................
2 points
3 points
One rice type (i.e., long-grain
only).
Two rice types (i.e., short- and
medium-grain).
Capability for short-, medium-,
and long-grain milled rice.
5–7 minutes ..................................
.......................................................
Sample presentation ......................
Ability to update algorithm and/or
calibration.
8–10 minutes ................................
25 g or greater in a single analysis.
Dependent on user technique * ....
Requires manufacturer cooperation and expertise.
1–4 minutes.
40 g or greater in a single analysis.
Independent of user technique *.
User updateable with user-friendly
tools available.
Instrumentation ..............................
Shared cost for duration of project
Manufacturer development resources.
Will provide tools and training for
development efforts.
.......................................................
User updateable, but requires
special training and/or programming.
Loan of one instrument for duration of project.
Will provide expertise and resources needed with 3- to 6week turnaround on requests.
Loan of two instruments for duration of project.
Will provide expertise and resources needed with 1- to 2week turnaround on requests.
* 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
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Superior Resource Advisory
Committee; Meeting
AGENCY:
Forest Service, Agriculture,
USDA.
ACTION:
Notice of virtual meeting.
The Superior Resource
Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a
virtual meeting by phone and/or video
conference. The committee is
authorized under the Secure Rural
Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (the Act) and
operates in compliance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act. The purpose
of the committee is to improve
collaborative relationships and to
provide advice and recommendations to
the Forest Service concerning projects
and funding consistent with Title II of
the Act, as well as to make
recommendations on recreation fee
proposals for sites on the Superior
National Forest within three Counties,
consistent with the Federal Lands
Recreation Enhancement Act. RAC
information and virtual meeting
information can be found at the
following website: https://
www.fs.usda.gov/main/superior/
workingtogether/advisorycommittees.
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SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:12 Feb 14, 2022
Jkt 256001
The meeting will be held on
March 2, 2022, 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.,
Central Standard Time.
All RAC meetings are subject to
cancellation. For status of the meeting
prior to attendance, please contact the
person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held
virtually via telephone and/or video
conference. Members of the public may
participate in the meeting by calling 1–
202–650–0123 and use access code
234369808#.
Written comments may be submitted
as described under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION. All comments, including
names and addresses when provided,
are placed in the record and are
available for public inspection and
copying. The public may inspect
comments received upon request.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mike Crotteau, Designated Federal
Officer (DFO), by phone at (218) 387–
3205 or email at michael.crotteau@
usda.gov or Cathy Quinn, RAC
Coordinator, at (218) 387–3240 or email
at cathleen.quinn@usda.gov.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf/
hard-of-hearing (TDD) may call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–
877–8339, 24 hours a day, every day of
the year, including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
purpose of the meeting is to:
1. Welcome and Introduction of
Superior RAC Members;
2. Overview of SRS Funds and Role
of Superior RAC;
3. Election of Superior RAC Chair and
Vice Chair;
4. Schedule the next meeting; and
5. Question and Answer Session.
DATES:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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The meeting is open to the public.
The agenda will include time for people
to make oral statements of three minutes
or less. Individuals wishing to make an
oral statement should make a request in
writing by February 16, 2022, to be
scheduled on the agenda. Anyone who
would like to bring related matters to
the attention of the committee may file
written statements with the committee
staff before or after the meeting. Written
comments and requests for time for oral
comments must be sent to Cathy Quinn,
2020 West Highway 61, Grand Marais,
MN 55604; or by email to
cathleen.quinn@usda.gov.
Meeting Accommodations: Please
make requests in advance for sign
language interpreter services, assistive
listening devices, or other reasonable
accommodation. For access to
proceedings, please contact the person
listed in the section titled FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT. All reasonable
accommodation requests are managed
on a case-by-case basis.
Equal opportunity practices, in line
with USDA policies, will be followed in
all membership appointments to the
RAC. To help ensure that
recommendations of the RAC have
taken into account the needs of the
diverse groups served by the
Department, membership shall include,
to the extent practicable, individuals
with demonstrated ability to represent
minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities.
The USDA prohibits discrimination in
all of its programs and activities on the
basis of race, color, national origin,
religion, sex, gender identity (including
gender expression), sexual orientation,
disability, age, marital status, family/
parental status, political beliefs, income
derived from a public assistance
E:\FR\FM\15FEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8559-8560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03180]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy D. Norden, Chief Scientist,
Technology and Science Division, Federal Grain Inspection Service, AMS,
USDA, 816-702-3803, [email protected].
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
https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/RiceHB.pdf.
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Score
Selection factor --------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 point 2 points 3 points
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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
