FOIA Request to Cumberland County regarding procurement bids and RFP submissions on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Cumberland County, Illinois, by East Central Reporter on February 1, 2026. 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 records requested 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 emphasizes that it is limited to existing records and does not necessitate the creation of new documents.
East Central Reporter has expressed a preference for receiving these records in electronic format. In case any part of the request is denied or withheld, they have asked for a specific statutory basis for such denial and the release of all reasonably segregable portions of the records.
The requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and public advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies using FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this organization can be found on their website.
In addition to gathering information for public dissemination, East Central Reporter aims to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency through access to public records. They have also requested a fee waiver based on their role as a media professional.
Cumberland County’s educational system had an average student-to-teacher ratio of 13-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year, with 1,458 students enrolled across its schools supported by 110 full-time faculty members.
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.
