FOIA Request to Burke County regarding procurement bids and RFP submissions on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Burke County by Old North News, a media organization dedicated to reporting 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 immediately preceding calendar month.
The specific information requested includes 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 emphasizes that it is limited to existing records and does not require the creation of new documents. Furthermore, Old North News has expressed a preference for receiving these records in electronic format if available.
The requestor, affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization assisting media companies in investigating governmental agencies—has also requested a fee waiver due to their role in gathering and disseminating news to the public. This waiver is sought under the premise that access to public records is crucial for holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency.
Old North News has asked that if any portion of this request is denied or withheld, Burke County should provide the specific statutory basis for such denial while releasing all reasonably segregable portions of the records.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
