FOIA Request to City of Burlington regarding procurement bids and RFP submissions on February 1, 2026.
The City of Burlington in North Carolina has received a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from Old North News, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs. The request was submitted under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1, and seeks records related to procurement bids and responses to requests for proposals (RFPs) received by the city during the immediately preceding calendar month.
The requested records include details such as solicitation or project titles, 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.
In their communication, Old North News highlights their role in gathering information of public interest for dissemination to the public. They assert that access to public records is essential for fulfilling their professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency. As a member of the media involved in reporting news to the public, they have requested a fee waiver based on their eligibility as media professionals.
The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists news media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information about this organization can be found at https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
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.
