FOIA Request to Gates County regarding procurement bids and RFP submissions on February 1, 2026.
On February 1, 2026, Old North News submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Gates County, North Carolina. The request seeks access to records concerning procurement bids and responses to requests for proposals (RFPs) received by the county during the preceding calendar month. This request was made under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1.
The specific records requested 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 intent behind this request is to gather information of public interest for dissemination to the public.
Old North News emphasized that the request is limited to existing records and does not necessitate the creation of new documents. Additionally, they have expressed a preference for receiving these records in electronic format if available. In case any portion of the request is denied or withheld, they have asked for a specific statutory basis for such denial and requested that all reasonably segregable portions of the records be released.
As a member of The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating governmental agencies—Old North News highlighted their role in promoting transparency and accountability in public institutions. They also mentioned their eligibility for a fee waiver as media professionals due to their involvement in gathering and reporting news.
Of note is that among 103 senior students taking the science portion of the ACT in Gates County school districts during the 2022-23 school year, only 23 students (22.3%) were considered ready for college.
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.
