Aeronautics Digital Inspection Platform RFI .docx

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Request for Information (RFI)

Aeronautics Digital Inspection Platform

COMMBUYS Bid#: BD-27-1030-0P100-0P110-132210 (this RFI is for ITS81 Cat1 EDM vendors and open to the public)

Contact Information:

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. Entities responding (“Respondents”) to this Request for Information (RFI) are invited to provide feedback on any or all of the items in this document. Responses to this RFI shall serve solely to assist the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) in understanding the current state of the marketplace with regards to the solicited information or to inform the development of a possible solicitation for a Request for Responses (RFR), Request for Quotes (RFQ), or Request for Proposals (RFP) in the future. This RFI does not in any way obligate MassDOT to issue or amend a solicitation or to include any of the RFI provisions or responses in any solicitation. Responding to this RFI is entirely voluntary and will in no way affect MassDOT’s consideration of any proposal submitted in response to any subsequent solicitation, nor will it serve as an advantage or disadvantage to the Respondent in the course of any RFR, RFQ, or RFP that may be subsequently issued or amended.

RFI Introduction and General Description

MassDOT is seeking detailed information from qualified vendors as part of its evaluation process for the gNext Platform. The Aeronautics Division oversees drone-based inspections for 5,000+ bridges across Massachusetts. Right now, processing that data is slow and resource heavy — one recent project took two weeks just to process a single dataset. There is no centralized platform to process, store, and share results with highway districts. The division is looking to bring on gNext Labs to speed up the workflow and deliver 3D bridge inspection models that engineers can access from any browser.

Through this Request for Information (RFI), MassDOT aims to better understand the capabilities, architectural approaches, licensing models, and implementation considerations of the gNext platform. Vendor responses will help inform the development of possible future procurement strategies and help ensure that the architecture and implementation align with MassDOT’s long‑term operational and strategic objectives.

Primary Use Case (MassDOT Context)

1. Create 3D digital twin models from bridge drone imagery that highway engineers can view through a standard internet browser — no special software or hardware required.

1. Build a repeatable process for collecting, processing, and comparing inspection data over time.

1. Primary users include 5 data analysts from the Aeronautics division data team as platform administrators.

1. View-only users include all Highway users residing in all 6 Highway districts throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Request For Information Vendors are invited to submit written responses addressing the requirements and questions below. Responses should be specific, experience-based, and focused on the subjects contained in this RFI.

Key Requirements

Platform & Delivery Model

1. Describe your SaaS platform architecture and how it is structured to support government-level tenant security and data isolation.

1. Describe any government-specific certifications, compliance frameworks, or FedRAMP/StateRAMP considerations applicable to your platform.

Storage & Integration

1. Describe your recommended approach for integrating with MassDOT's existing AWS S3 bucket (Commonwealth Cloud) via API, including data flow and security considerations.

1. Describe future integration capabilities your platform supports or plans to support, including but not limited to ESRI and other GIS tools.

Licensing Model

1. Describe your licensing model for data consumption. How are gigapixels processed per year measured? Provide information on available base plans and tier storage increments. Do not include actual cost or fee information.

Identity & Access Management

1. Describe the identity and access management options supported by your platform, including Microsoft O365 Single Sign-On (SSO) or equivalent modern IAM approaches.

General Instructions & Information Please note that this RFI is issued solely for the purpose of obtaining information. Nothing in this RFI shall be interpreted as a commitment on the part of MassDOT to procure or enter into a contract with any Respondent or other party.

This RFI will be distributed electronically by posting it on COMMBUYS. All Respondents are responsible for checking COMMBUYS for any addenda or modifications made to the RFI subsequent to the initial posting on COMMBUYS.

Respondents may contact the MassDOT contact identified above if the RFI is incomplete or if information is missing. Respondents experiencing technical problems accessing information or attachments stored on COMMBUYS may contact the COMMBUYS Helpdesk at COMMBUYS@state.ma.us or the COMMBUYS Helpline at 1-888-MA-STATE. The Helpline is staffed from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, Eastern Standard or Daylight time, as applicable, except on federal, state and Suffolk County holidays.

Response Submissions and Calendar Respondents should submit one (1) electronic copy of their responses by Monday August 31, 2026 at 4:00 PM. A late response may be disregarded.

All responses must include on the first page the official name of the entity submitting the response. Please consecutively number all pages of the response.

Although the responses may include supplemental materials, they should be limited to twenty-five (25) pages (single-sided in 12-point font) and focused specifically on the subjects contained in this RFI.

Respondents must submit responses via COMMBUYS.

Additional Information / Potential for Informational Sessions Some Respondents may be invited to provide a capability briefing or demonstration of their product/solution.

MassDOT may request additional information from Respondents, including further explanation or clarifications, during the review process.

Respondent Questions Respondents may only make inquiries and request clarification concerning this RFI by submitting questions via the COMMBUYS Q&A button under this RFI bid number.

Responses to inquiries and clarification questions will be provided electronically to all interested parties via a posting on COMMBUYS.

Vendors may not communicate directly or indirectly with any employee of MassDOT, except as specified in the RFI or in the ordinary course of business (e.g., in connection with a different contract the vendor may have with MassDOT) regarding this RFI.

MassDOT Contact Information Please direct all communications to the MassDOT contact listed above.

REVIEW RIGHT, PUBLIC RECORDS, COST, AND OTHER

Responses to this RFI may be reviewed and evaluated by any person(s) at the discretion of MassDOT, including independent consultants retained by MassDOT now or in the future.

All responses to this RFI will be a public record under the Commonwealth's Public Records Law, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66 Section 10, regardless of confidentiality notices set forth on such writings to the contrary.

All responses and other documents submitted in response to the RFI become the property of MassDOT. MassDOT is under no obligation to return any documents submitted by a Respondent.

By submitting a response, Respondents agree that any cost incurred in responding to this RFI, or in support of activities associated with this RFI, shall be the sole responsibility of the Respondent. MassDOT shall not be held responsible for any costs incurred by Respondents in preparing their respective responses to this RFI.

Respondents are responsible for entering content suitable for public viewing, as all the responses and questions are accessible to the public. Respondents must not include any information that could be considered personal, security sensitive, inflammatory, incorrect, collusive, or otherwise objectionable, including information about the Respondent's company or other companies.

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