Freedom of Information Request: 0340 2019/20

I’m a business student at Newcastle University undertaking academic research into the corporate use of framework portals for procurement.

Section A

Framework Portals: Overview

1. Which departments within your organisation currently have access to a framework portal? Procurement/Finance
2. Approximately how many of your staff are able to access a framework portal of some kind? Approximately 50 staff in Procurement and Finance
3. Are there any goods/services that do not currently make use of a procurement framework portal, but would benefit from one? (Please name) Not Valid under Freedom of Information Act
4. Can you please provide an estimation of the length of time your employees spend on framework portals? (If applicable) Not Valid under Freedom of Information Act
5. Please tick all that apply

Our staff find the current portals easy to use – Yes

Our staff think the portals provide good and sufficient pre-purchase information 

Our staff believe that searching on portals is time consuming

Our staff think that the current portals are easy to access – Yes

Section B

Framework Portals: Artificial Intelligence

1. Has your organisation trialled or are they in the process of developing any goods or services using A.I. (Artificial Intelligence)? Yes
2. If you answered ‘Yes’ to question 1, are you looking to procure the good or service you have trialled through a procurement framework? Not Sure
3. If you answered ‘Yes’ to question 2, please provide the names of any A.I. suppliers or products that you are considering using for your organisation? Not Applicable, still trialling a range of potential A.I. uses