FOIA Request to Bureau County regarding procurement bids and RFP submissions on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Bureau County, Illinois, by Prairie State Wire, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs. The request seeks access to records of procurement bids and responses to requests for proposals (RFPs) received by the county during the immediately preceding calendar month. This request aims to gather information of public interest for dissemination.
The requested records include details such as the solicitation or project title, names of bidders or proposers, submission dates, bid amounts or proposed costs, and descriptions of the goods or services proposed. The request specifies that it is limited to existing records and does not require the creation of new documents. Prairie State Wire has expressed a preference for receiving these records in electronic format if available.
Prairie State Wire has emphasized its role in gathering and reporting news to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency. As a member of the media, they have requested a fee waiver for accessing these public records. The requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization assisting media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies using FOIA and Sunshine Laws.
Bureau County had an average student-to-teacher ratio of 12-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year, with 4,427 students enrolled across its schools and 381 full-time faculty members.
We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.
