https://www.cbr.com/archies-sugar-sugar-origins/

Sorry!  The link shrunk for some reason. but click on it and it still works anyway.

This was also covered in an article by Andy Mangels in the recently-released BACK ISSUE #107.

The song was never offered to the Monkees. That was a long-standing misconception because of the Don Kirshner connection with both groups.

Also of interest is the fact (pointed out in Mangels' article) that "Sugar, Sugar" was written in about 20 minutes.