Dear North East Procurement Organisation,

I would be most grateful if you would provide me, under the Freedom of Information Act, the information detailed below.

For Geometric Results Inc relating to the period November 2018 to November 2019:

1. How many agency staff suppliers have signed an agreement to become part of the neutral vendor model for the above period?
2. Of those agency staff suppliers who have signed an agreement, how many have been invoiced for an agency worker in the above period?
3. How many agency staff suppliers have placed more than 10 agency staff?
4. Of those agency staff suppliers who have signed an agreement, how many have had an opportunity to propose specific agency workers?
5. From the receipt of payment to join the GRI neutral vendor supply chain, what is the average time it has taken for agency staff suppliers to have the opportunity to propose specific agency workers?
6. What are the total fees GRI have received from agency staff suppliers for the above period?
7. How many of the agency staff suppliers who have signed an agreement are SME’s?
8. How many agency staff workers in total have been provided in the above period?
9. What is the total value of rebate which NEPO have received from GRI for the above period?

Yours faithfully,

Mrs Franklin

Dear NEPO,

Thank you for your prompt response.

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of North East Procurement Organisation's handling of my FOI request 'GRI - Neutral Vendor'.

There is a presumption in the Freedom of Information Act to disclose information wherever possible rather than to withhold it. Therefore, for the public interest to be in favour of withholding there needs to be a significant impact to the commercial interests of NEPO or another organisation, compared to the interests of transparency.

With regards to question 6, you need to consider carefully whether there would actually be significant impact on your commercial interests in disclosing this information. The total fees received by GRI do not provide any indications of contractual profitability, it is an aggregate amount so provides no commercial insight into any contractual or commercial nuances. These fees are public funds and as such it is entirely reasonable for the aggregate value of these funds being used to service this contract to be made available to the public.

To clarify your response to question 9. With respect you have not answered the question, the question asked:
‘What is the total value of rebate which NEPO have received from GRI for the above period?’

It appears that NEPO receive up to 10% of the total contract value, however, can you please provide the information requested.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/g...

Yours faithfully,

Mrs Franklin