Informal Opinion Letter Summary

UIPA Memo 12-6

Denial of Request for Records, Equipment Pricing Lists for
Contract to Provide Airport Passenger Information Systems

Requester asked whether the Department of Transportation, Airports Division (DOT), properly denied Requester’s request under part II of the UIPA for the equipment price list sheet submitted to DOT by the company awarded the contract to provide and install new passenger information systems for Kahului Airport.

OIP found that DOT may withhold from the Awardee’s equipment price sheet, information specifically identifying the manufacturers and models because this information is confidential commercial and financial information that is exempt from disclosure under the UIPA’s “frustration of a legitimate government function” exception. However, DOT must disclose the general equipment descriptions, quantity and unit, and total costs because this information reveals the unit prices that DOT will be paying for all equipment components and, therefore, constitutes “government purchasing information” required to be public. HRS § 92F-12(a)(3).

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