Complaints about National Strategic Partners and/or National Strategic Partners Program
| Tracking # |
2014-FNS-02142-F |
| Submitted | Feb. 19, 2014 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Brooke Williams
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
Any and all complaints received about any current and/or former National Strategic Partners and/or complaints about the National Strategic Partner Program itself.
The time frame of this request is from the first date of any complaint received until the date on which this request is fulfilled. Please don't hesitate to contact me at 202-615-3551 with any questions or concerns about this request or its scope.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I ask that you please provide these records in their original electronic format. Also, I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your commitment to an open and transparent government process. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Brooke Williams
Reporter
From: McGill, Ashleigh
Hello,
Please see attached correspondence.
Thank you.
From: USDAFOIA - OCIO
Good morning,
Your request has been forwarded to FNS for further review. Please refer to the attached referral letter for further information.
Thanks,
"You may now submit FOIA request(s) online to any USDA FOIA office using the USDA online web portal, Public Access Link (PAL). You may access PAL at https://efoia-pal.usda.gov/palMain.aspx. After you register and establish your password you will be able to (1) submit, (2) check the status of your FOIA, and (3) download our responses to your FOIA(s)."
Stay Connected with USDA:
From: MuckRock
Hello,
Per the attached, this FOIA request has been forwarded to FNS. Please confirm receipt.
Thank you.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 19, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: FOIA - FNS
Hi Brooke,
Will you be available Tuesday Mar 25 at 1pm to discuss your request?
Thanks
Jennifer
Jennifer Weatherly
Acting Chief, Information Managment Office
FNS FOIA and Privacy Act Officer
Information Management Office
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
(703) 605-0773
jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov
IMB Customer Survey
From: Brooke Williams
Hi, Jennifer,
Thank you for reaching out today. Just to confirm, yes, I'm available at 1 p.m. tomorrow and look forward to talking then. I'll be at 202-615-3551.
Thank you,
Brooke
From: Weatherly, Jennifer
Please see attached response pertaining to your request for all complaints recieved on the National Strategic Partners.
Thanks
Jennifer
From: FOIA - FNS
Good Afternoon,
I apologize for the delay. Below are the notes from the meeting and what was agreed upon for the narrowed scope.
Request 1: “Any and all applications submitted to become a National Strategic Partner, whether approved or denied, and any and all responses to those applications.”
This was narrowed to just the application, the name of the company plus items 2 and 3 on the application.
Request 2: “Any and all complaints received about any current and/or former National Strategic Partners and/or complaints about the National Strategic Partner Program itself.”
There are no complaints on file and therefore this is a “No Records Response”. Response has already be given in writing.
Request 3: “Any and all records of communication with current and/or past USDA National Strategic Partners.”
The timeframe for this request was narrowed to the past 3 months (December 2013 – Present). The records were also narrowed to meeting minutes (phone and in person), and emails with NSPs pertaining to communication about the functions of the program, accountable to standards, and any Q & As from partners.
We are requesting and extension until April 18, 2014. Please let us know if you agree to the narrowed scope above and extension.
Thanks
Jennifer Weatherly
Acting Chief, Information Managment Office
FNS FOIA and Privacy Act Officer
Information Management Office
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
(703) 605-0773
jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov
IMB Customer Survey
From: Brooke Williams
Thank you, Jennifer. I appreciate you all taking the time to talk and help with my request.
Regarding request 3, the time frame will be from December 2013 to the date you retrieve the records, right?
Also, just to recap another part of our phone discussion: I agreed to narrow the time frame significantly with the understanding that it would be most efficient in helping to develop a effective methodology to search for responsive records. Once this request is complete and we have a better understanding of the scope and searching process, I will file another request with a broader time frame.
Thanks again,
Brooke
From: FOIA - FNS
That is correct. From when the records are retrieved. After we have completed these requests, if you wish to file another request then we will process that one as well. Are we in agreement with the scope and extension?
Thank you for your corporation.
Jennifer Weatherly
Acting Chief, Information Managment Office
FNS FOIA and Privacy Act Officer
Information Management Office
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
(703) 605-0773
jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov
IMB Customer Survey
From: Brooke Williams
Yes. Thank you, Jennifer.
From: FOIA - FNS
Ms. Williams,
We are requesting an additional extension. We have gathered all the applications and this request is almost complete. The other request we are still searching for responsive records.
I am out of the office this week and once I return and review the progress I can provide a date of when we expect to be done.
We apologize for the delay and appreciate your understanding.
Thanks
Jennifer
Jennifer Weatherly
Acting Chief, Information Management Office
FNS FOIA and Privacy Act Officer
Information Management Office
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
(703) 605-0773
jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov
IMB Customer Survey
From: FOIA - FNS
Ms. Williams,
I wanted to give you a status update on your request. As mentioned before we have gathered and reviewed the NSPs applications. We may be required to contact all of the NSPs to comply with Executive Order 12600. If we are required to do this, it will take additional time. Once they are notified they will have 10 business days to respond. I will provide another update next week.
We are diligently working on your request and apologize for the delay. We appreciate your cooperation.
Jennifer
Jennifer Weatherly
Acting Chief, Information Management Office
FNS FOIA and Privacy Act Officer
Information Management Office
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
(703) 605-0773
jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov
IMB Customer Survey
From: Brooke Williams
Hi, Jennifer,
Thank you for the update. I appreciate it. Did you decide whether it was necessary or not to contact all of the NSPs?
I look forward to hearing from you and hope you are well.
Best,
Brooke
From: FOIA - FNS
Hi Brooke,
After discussing with our General Counsel we are required to contact all of the NSPs and let them know that their application has been requested. We have already drafted the letter to them and once it goes out they will have 10 business days to respond with what they think should not be released.
If you have any other questions, please let me know and I will be in touch.
Jennifer
Jennifer Weatherly
Acting Chief, Information Management Office
FNS FOIA and Privacy Act Officer
Information Management Office
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
(703) 605-0773
jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov
IMB Customer Survey
From: Brooke Williams
Thank you, Jennifer. When do you plan on sending out the letters? Also, since this request has multiple parts, I ask that you please provide responsive records as they become available.
Best,
Brooke
From: FOIA - FNS
Hi Brooke,
We sent the notice out on May 2. We will do our best to provide records as they become available.
Thanks
Jennifer
Jennifer Weatherly
FNS FOIA and Privacy Act Officer
Information Management Office
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
(703) 605-0773
jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov
IMB Customer Survey
From: Brooke Williams
Thank you, Jennifer. I appreciate it. Please feel free to call with any questions in the meantime.
Best,
Brooke
202-615-3551
From: Brooke Williams
Hi, Jennifer,
I just left you a voice mail to check on the status of my requests. Please call me at 202-615-3551. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
Brooke
From: FOIA - FNS
Hi Brooke,
I apologize for the delay. There are over 700 pages that were provided for the NSPs communication request. I am currently reviewing them and I'm close to being complete. I will try and get it out next week.
Thanks
Jennifer
Jennifer Weatherly
FNS FOIA and Privacy Act Officer
Information Management Office
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
(703) 605-0773
jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov
IMB Customer Survey
From: Brooke Williams
Thank you for the update. I appreciate all of your help with this request. What is the status of my request for applications?
From: FOIA - FNS
I sent it out on June 10th via email. Please let me know if you didn't receive it and I will put it in the mail.
Jennifer
Jennifer Weatherly
FNS FOIA and Privacy Act Officer
Information Management Office
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
(703) 605-0773
jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov
IMB Customer Survey
From: Brooke Williams
Hi, Jennifer,
Did you send the applications via email? I did not receive them or any email. If you could please email them again to me here and at brookewilliams.dc@gmail.com, I'd appreciate it.
Please call with any questions. I'm at 202-615-3551.
Thank you,
Brooke
From: FOIA - FNS
Hi Brooke,
Yes I sent it via email. I resent it to the email address you provided below. Please let me know if you receive it. If you don't I will be happy to put it on a CD and mail it to you.
Jennifer
Jennifer Weatherly
FNS FOIA and Privacy Act Officer
Information Management Office
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
(703) 605-0773
jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov
IMB Customer Survey
From: FOIA - FNS
Hi Brooke,
I just received an undeliverable from that email address you provided. Please provide me the address where you would like the response mailed.
Jennifer
Jennifer Weatherly
FNS FOIA and Privacy Act Officer
Information Management Office
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
(703) 605-0773
jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov
IMB Customer Survey
From: Brooke Williams
Hi, Jennifer,
My email is brookewilliams.dc@gmail.com I'll send you a quick note from that email address now. Could it be a size issue?
Please mail the CD, addressed to me, at 124 Mount Auburn Street, Suite 520N, Cambridge, MA 02138.
Thank you,
Brooke
From: FOIA - FNS
Will do. Thanks
Jennifer Weatherly
FNS FOIA and Privacy Act Officer
Information Management Office
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
(703) 605-0773
jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov
IMB Customer Survey
From: FOIA - FNS
Brooke,
We apologize for the delay with your request. I have the missing applications and hope to have them to you early next week. Also, we are close to being complete with the other request pertaining to communication with the NSPs.
Thank you
Jennifer
Jennifer Weatherly
FNS FOIA and Privacy Act Officer
Information Management Office
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
(703) 605-0773
jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov
IMB Customer Survey
From: Brooke Williams
Thank you, Jennifer.
From: Brooke Williams
Hi, Jennifer,
Just left you a voice mail. Will you be sending the communication via email? And when can I expect to receive it? I'm at 202-615-3551.
Thank you,
Brooke
From: FOIA - FNS
Hi Brooke,
Attached are the missing applications from our response to FOIA 2014-FNS-02140-F.
We are doing our best to close as many FOIAs as we can by the end of the month. I hope to have your other request closed by then as yours is one of our oldest requests.
Thank you for your patience.
Jennifer
Jennifer Weatherly
FNS FOIA and Privacy Act Officer
Information Management Office
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
(703) 605-0773
jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov<mailto:jennifer.weatherly@fns.usda.gov>
IMB Customer Survey<http://fncs/fns/mtf/man/imb/custsurvey/>
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