1-RFI03202026MO - Urban Design Software.pdf

1111 Fannin Street, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77002 Tel 713-274-4400 Fax 713-755-6695

HARRIS COUNTY

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

RFI NO. 03302026MO

SCHEDULE

RFI Release Date 2:00 PM CST, Thursday, April 2, 2026 Questions Due 12:00 PM CST, Thursday, April 9, 2026 Submissions Due 5:00 PM CST, Tuesday, April 21, 2026

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Margaret Obot Margaret.obot@harriscountytx.gov 713-274-4482

1. Purpose

1.1 Utilizing a RFI, Harris County Texas is seeking to explore available Urban Design Software Solutions capable of supporting county-wide planning, architectural visualization, early‑phase design, graphic illustration, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

1.2 This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP). PRICING INFORMATION SHALL BE OMITTED with the exception of Pricing Model/Structure information (see Section 5.2). This RFI does not create any representation, either express or implied that Harris County will release an RFP in the future for the purchase of any products or services as a result of this RFI. At this time Harris County is not seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Harris County will not be liable for any costs incurred by the vendor in preparing a response to this RFI. Vendors submit information at their own risk and expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if one is issued. No preference or special consideration will be given to participants of this RFI.

2. Submittal

2.1 RETURN RFI RESPONSE VIA BONFIRE

Transmittal Letter - The transmittal letter should include:

Company name and address; name, title, email, telephone number of person(s) to be contacted for clarifications or additional information regarding submission, and

A brief statement summarizing the vendor’s understanding of the project.

Scope of Services

See Section 5.1 Pricing Model

See Section 5.2

3. Industry Discussions

3.1 The Office of the Harris County Purchasing Agent will initiate discussions, if needed, with selected vendors. Discussions may not be initiated by vendors. The intent of such discussions would be to gather further clarification of potential solution capabilities, features, methods of delivery, etc. All presentations and/or meetings that may be required between Harris County and vendors shall be coordinated by the Office of the Harris County Purchasing Agent. Vendors shall not contact any Harris County personnel during the RFI process without the express permission from the Office of the Harris County Purchasing Agent.

3.2 The Office of the Harris County Purchasing Agent may extend written invitation to vendors to provide a demonstration of product features. Vendors shall be prepared to verbally and visually demonstrate the functions and features of the solution presented. Harris County stakeholders, users and technical personnel will be present during presentations. Please ensure appropriate personnel are present or available to answer all questions.

4. Background

4.1 Harris County is looking to implement a software solution that supports urban design, architectural visualization, and iterative design. This platform will enable design teams to conceptualize, analyze, and communicate ideas effectively across multiple disciplines, ensuring seamless interoperability with industry-standard tools. The solution will cater to early phase design, stakeholder presentations, and collaborative workflows for urban planning and architectural projects.

5. Requested Information

5.1 Scope of Services - Harris County requests detailed information on the following software capabilities.

These categories reflect the minimum feature domains required for an Urban Design Software Solution.

Urban Design

Conceptual Massing: Tools for creating and manipulating building volumes and site layouts.

Streetscape Elements: Libraries and parametric tools for roads, sidewalks, and street furniture.

Public Visualization: high-quality renderings and real-time visual outputs for stakeholder communication

Architecture Early-Phase Design: Support for iterative design exploration and form development.

Form Development: Flexible modeling tools for organic and geometric shapes.

Spatial Studies: Tools for site analysis.

Graphic Illustration

Diagramming: Built-in tools for conceptual diagrams and schematic representations.

Illustrative Graphics: High-quality vector and raster outputs for designs.

Presentation-Ready Visuals: Export options for boards, slides, and presentations.

Precision Modeling Accurate Surface and Geometry Modeling: Advanced modeling capabilities for complex forms and detailed components.

Visualization High-Quality Renderings: Photorealistic and stylized rendering engines.

Site Analysis

Context Modeling: Import and model surrounding urban context.

Spatial Relationships: Analytical tools for density, connectivity, and accessibility.

Environmental Considerations: Sun/shade studies, wind analysis, and sustainability metrics.

Interoperability

File Exchange: Seamless integration with Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Revit, SketchUp, and Blender.

Open Standards: Support for IFC, OBJ, FBX, and other industry-standard formats.

Data Storing: Our goal is to ensure that all data created on this platform remains accessible once the subscription period is over.

Collaboration: Cloud-based workflows for multi-user access and version control.

Integration and Compatibility

Compatible with major operating systems (Windows, macOS).

Requires minimal local hardware resources; optimized for GPU acceleration.

User Training and Documentation

Quick Start Guide: Step-by-step instructions for basic operations.

Knowledge Base: Access to tutorials, FAQs, and troubleshooting guides.

5.2 Pricing Model

Vendors must provide a clear description of their pricing model structure, outlining how their software and services are typically packaged and organized. This should include an explanation of licensing options (such as subscription, perpetual, user‑based, or enterprise configurations), how modules or features are grouped, and what factors generally influence pricing. Vendors must also describe how implementation, training, support, or optional components are structured.

No actual pricing and or cost estimates of any kind should be submitted, as this RFI is issued solely for information‑gathering and planning purposes. The County is requesting only the framework and methodology of the vendor’s pricing model to inform potential next steps in any future procurement process.

6. Summary

6.1 THIS IS AN RFI ONLY. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the County. Harris County has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed and the release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Harris County property and will not be returned.