FOIA Request to Monroe County regarding procurement bids and RFP submissions on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Monroe County, Illinois, by Prairie State Wire, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs. The request seeks access to records related to procurement bids and responses to requests for proposals (RFPs) received by the county during the preceding calendar month.
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 purpose of this request is to gather information of public interest for dissemination to the public. It is important to note that the request is limited to existing records and does not require the creation of new documents.
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 based on their professional responsibilities. They are also affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating governmental agencies through FOIA and Sunshine Laws.
Monroe County has an average student-to-teacher ratio of 16-to-1 in the 2022-23 school year, with 5,049 students enrolled and 321 full-time faculty members across its schools.
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.
