F. Contracts, proposals and bids.

Documents relating to the award of public contracts in Alabama — whether by the state, county, municipality or a public corporation, and whether the contracts are required to be bid or not — are open to public inspection. See, e.g., Ala. Code § 9-15-78(a) (2001) (sale or lease of public lands); Ala. Code §  9-14-22(b) (2001) (all documents pertaining to award of contracts for concessions at state parks); and Ala. Code §§ 41-16-24(b), -54(b), -57(d) (Supp. 2010); 200 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 23 (Aug. 19, 1985) (Medicaid fiscal agent contract); 227 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 42 (June 3, 1992) (fire district contracts); 237 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 18 (Oct. 11, 1994) (all documents relating to the award of the contract, including correspondence with references to check the bidder's credibility). Settlement agreements entered into by a public entity are also public contracts, notwithstanding a confidentiality clause in the settlement agreement. Consolidated Publishing Co. v. Smith, CV 92-500197 (Cir. Ct. of Calhoun County, Ala., Oct. 16, 1992).