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Where can I read winning proposals from past RFPs without filing a records request for each?

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  • There is no central repository for winning proposals at the state or local level, and you will need to file a public records request for each one.
  • What Helen mentioned about redacting trade secrets is key.
  • You will get a redacted version of the proposal, which means some of the pricing details or proprietary methods might be blacked out.
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My company is looking at state and local landscaping contracts, specifically for city and county grounds maintenance (NAICS 561730). We've found a few past RFPs on the various state procurement portals like Team Georgia Marketplace and eVA. These portals show the award notices, which is great to see who won and for how much. But what I really want to see is the winning proposal itself. I've heard that after a contract is awarded, the proposals are public record, but I can't find them linked anywhere on the portals.

Is there a standard place where these winning proposals are posted, or do I have to file a public records request for each one individually? I'm trying to understand what a successful proposal looks like for these kinds of contracts.

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asked Jordan P. First-year bidder, landscaping and grounds · Jacksonville, FL · 148 rep

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There is no central repository for winning proposals at the state or local level, and you will need to file a public records request for each one. What Helen mentioned about redacting trade secrets is key. You will get a redacted version of the proposal, which means some of the pricing details or proprietary methods might be blacked out. This is standard practice to protect the bidding company's intellectual property. My firm has done this for county and school district bids. Sometimes, you get a lot of useful information, other times not so much, but it is always worth trying.

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answered Marcus T. Verified vendorOwner, janitorial and facilities firm · Columbus, OH · 390 rep
Thanks for confirming, Marcus. I'll start by filing public records requests for a few of the recent grounds maintenance awards I saw on the City of Jacksonville's procurement portal. · Jordan P. ·
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There is no standard place where winning proposals are posted at the state and local level; you will need to file a public records request for each one individually.

Each state and local government has its own procurement code and public records laws. While many will post the award notice and often the final contract on their state procurement portal, the proposals themselves are generally not uploaded. The public records laws typically require the release of proposals after award, but a specific request is needed for each document. The county I worked for would require a written request for proposals, and we would redact any information that was legally protected, like trade secrets or proprietary data, before releasing them.

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answered Helen M. Former county procurement analyst · Raleigh, NC · 250 rep
I agree. My firm has done this and the redactions can make it hard to understand the original proposal. We have also seen some agencies charge a fee for the time spent on redaction and production. · Priya S. ·

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Sign up to answerCite the FAR clause or procurement code where you can.

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