FOIA Request to DuPage County regarding procurement bids and RFP submissions on February 1, 2026.
On February 1, 2026, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to DuPage County by the DuPage Policy Journal. 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. This request is made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, with a preference for receiving the information in electronic format.
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 request emphasizes that it seeks existing records only and does not require the creation of new documents. Additionally, if any part of this request is denied or withheld, a statutory basis for denial should be provided along with all reasonably segregable portions of the records.
The DuPage Policy Journal identifies itself as a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs. As part of its role in gathering and reporting news to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency, it has requested a fee waiver typically available to media professionals under FOIA regulations.
Furthermore, the requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website here.
DuPage County is located in Illinois and has an average student-to-teacher ratio of 13-to-1 in its schools during the 2022-23 school year. The county had an enrollment of 142,363 students with 10,626 full-time faculty members across its educational institutions.
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.
