AI Plan Review RFI_6-2026.pdf

State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs

Division of Housing Request for Information Regarding a

Generative Artificial Intelligence Construction Plan Review

System

RFI-NHAA-2026000047

RQS # NHAA-2025*6302

Request for Information Overview The primary goal of this Request for Information (RFI) is to collect information that will assist the Department of Local Affairs’ (DOLA) Division of Housing (DOH) in the development and deployment of a generative artificial intelligence system to assist with design/construction plans for single dwelling units and multi dwelling unit structures.

The Division of Housing (DOH) conducts a full design and plan review, and inspects the construction of factory-built structures to the extent the design and construction relates to work performed offsite or work that is completed at the installation site as reflected in the approved plans for the factory-built structure. The DOH does account for and apply standards for residential and non-residential factory-built structures and tiny homes detailed in Administrative Rules at 8 Code of Colorado Regulations (CCR)

1302-14. Plan reviews and inspections also consider design standards concerning unique public safety requirements related to geographic or climatic conditions, such as weight restrictions for roof snow loads, wind shear factors, fire suppression systems, and wildfire mitigation.

The DOH is looking to build a generative artificial intelligence system that will act as a preliminary reviewer of all design and plan submissions, and will also be capable of auditing plans reviewed and approved by third-party agencies. The system must be customizable to adapt to future building code updates, and to account for each local jurisdiction's unique public safety requirements related to geographic or climatic conditions (site-specific) or DOH’s regional design criteria requirements, as updated over time. The AI reviewed plan will then be reviewed by a human for verification.

Given this primary goal, the DOLA will review and evaluate RFI responses against our business needs. Suitable components from this RFI may be included in any resulting

Request for Proposals (RFP). A thorough review will include analysis of:

● The written response

● Written or oral question and answer sessions https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/Upload/AGORequest/AdoptedRules02026-00151.docx https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/Upload/AGORequest/AdoptedRules02026-00151.docx

● Other communication necessary for the Division of Housing to understand your response

Please note that this RFI is for informational purposes only, and no contract will be awarded as a result. A firm or organization’s response to the RFI—or lack thereof—will have no impact on the evaluation of responses to any subsequent RFP or Invitation for

Bid (IFB) released. Responses will be used solely for information and planning purposes.

Please note that all responses will be public record. Do not submit confidential information in your response. See the “Confidential or Proprietary Information” section for further information.

Confidential or Proprietary Information

The State neither requests nor encourages you to submit confidential or proprietary information in response to this RFI. Information you submit will be open for public inspection after completion of the RFP process and award of contract, should an RFP process be conducted. Therefore, the materials you submit in response to this RFI will eventually be made available for public disclosure unless the specific steps/actions outlined below are taken.

Materials that the DOLA Procurement and Contracts Manager deems confidential or proprietary under this section will not be available for public disclosure. If you want the State to treat certain information as confidential or proprietary, you can submit a written request as part of your RFI package to the DOLA Procurement Director for consideration.

Your written request should be in strict compliance with the procedures listed below.

It is your responsibility to follow these procedures. Your written request for confidentiality or proprietary classification will be reviewed and either approved or denied by the DOLA Procurement Director. If it is denied, you will have the opportunity to withdraw your entire response or to remove the proprietary restrictions.

Neither cost nor pricing information nor your total RFI response will be considered proprietary.

Procedures for Submission of Confidential or Proprietary Information

● A written request for a confidentiality or proprietary classification shall be submitted, by the offeror, up to three (3) business days prior to the RFI response date.

● The written request will be a separate email with “Request for confidentiality or proprietary classification,” in the subject line.

● The written request must state specifically, and identify by page number, those elements of the proposal that are to remain confidential. The request must also identify the basis for the claim of confidentiality or proprietary classification, other than a recitation of a specific state or federal statute.

● Confidential or proprietary information must be readily identified, marked and separated from the rest of the RFI response. Co-mingling of confidential or proprietary information and other information is not acceptable.

● The Procurement and Contracts Manager will make a written determination as to the apparent validity of any request for confidentiality or proprietary classification. This written determination will be sent to the responding proposer.

● Responses not following this procedure may be returned and given no further consideration.

Request for Information Contact We have designated the following individual to serve as the official point of contact for this RFI. This individual is the only authorized contact permitted to communicate on behalf of the DOLA about this RFI. You are encouraged to submit any questions concerning this RFI in order to gain clarification by the date shown in the “Request for

Information Timeline” section of this RFI. Questions will only be accepted in writing via email, on company letterhead. In place of letterhead, you can include your name, address, and relevant contact information. Send questions to:

Brenda Lujan

Procurement and Contracts Manager brenda.lujan@state.co.us

Submission Details All responses to this RFI must be submitted in writing via email to Brenda Lujan at brenda.lujan@state.co.us. Responses must include:

A. The RFI number (as written on the front page of this document)

a. The title of the RFI, and

b. The responding company’s name in the e-mail subject line

c. All responses should:

i. Be submitted in a Microsoft Word or Excel document in the format of the vendor’s choice.

ii. Address as many points in the “Information Requested” section as possible.

iii. If necessary, include other narrative information or attachments which, while not explicitly asked for through this RFI, would advance the mission of the Division of Housing as stated in the

“Background and Goals” section to follow.

iv. Any response which fails to respond to the questions in the

“Information Requested” section, or is purely promotional in nature, may be disregarded.

B. Vendor Self Service and BidNet Registration

a. This solicitation is published using both the Colorado Vendor Self-Service

(VSS) portal and the Rocky Mountain BidNet (BidNet) systems. You, as a vendor or consultant, must be registered on both VSS and BidNet in order to download solicitation documents and information and to mailto:brenda.lujan@state.co.us mailto:brenda.lujan@state.co.us respond by the deadline to submit information. Your registrations in both VSS and BidNet have to be current as of the submission deadline specific to this RFI and as noted on the VSS and BidNet webpages.

b. Your registration status is based on the Proposer Federal Employer Tax

ID Number (FEIN). This FEIN shall be the number used to determine if, or if not, a submitting entity is registered and can submit documents for review by DOLA staff.

c. Email one copy of the information document

d. Upload one copy to BidNet in .pdf format

C. Vendor Self Service Website and Solicitation Page, Attachments, Terms and

Conditions

a. Print the VSS notice from the VSS website

b. List all the files you attach

c. Follow solicitation instructions and terms and conditions attached in the

VSS notice

D. Rocky Mountain BidNet Website and Solicitation Page, Attachments, Terms and

Conditions

a. Print the BidNet notice Bidnet Website

b. List all the files you attach

c. Follow solicitation instructions and terms and conditions attached in the

BidNet notice

E. Disclaimer to vendors

a. This RFI is being added to BidNet in order to allow for electronic responses.

i. You must respond electronically through BidNet. VSS will not accept uploaded responses. If you need assistance, please contact

BidNet’s Vendor Support Department at 800-835-4603, Option 2.

ii. Note that this solicitation is published in duplicate on VSS as well as BidNet. Any updates or amendments to the solicitation will be posted in both locations.

http://www.colorado.gov/vss https://www.bidnetdirect.com/

1. Submit your information document electronically via BidNet only and send one version by email to the Procurement and

Contracts Manager.

Request for Information Timeline Please review the RFI timeline below. Dates may be modified or amended by the

Department of Local Affairs, which will post an amendment to this RFI notifying prospective respondents of any change.

The timeline for this RFI is as follows:

● June 25, 2026

○ Publication of RFI onto VSS and BidNet and sent to known potentially interested parties

● July 1, 2026 at 5:00pm MST

○ Deadline to submit written questions to brenda.lujan@state.co.us

● July 6, 2026

○ DOLA responses posted on VSS and BidNet

● July 9, 2026, 5:00 p.m. MST

○ Submission deadline / Upload your submission to BidNet and email a copy

● July 10 to July 31, 2026

○ Estimated time for Division of Housing to review all submissions

Detailed Requirements

We are looking to build a system that would be able to analyze the following requirements set forth in plan submissions.

Basic review for document verification for building code compliance:

● Verification that applicable plan documentation was submitted (Residential Plan Submission Checklist or the Non-Residential Plan Submission Checklist).

● Check for correct applicable code references (2024 International Building Code as amended, 2024 International Residential Code as amended, 2024 mailto:brenda.lujan@state.co.us https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nf8yB0cCJSzzFzIxyO9H2TL5c5lTXoes/view https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nf8yB0cCJSzzFzIxyO9H2TL5c5lTXoes/view https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sEifsZIemVDJbEaHBzTljr1LxCtLj1NR/view

International Mechanical Code as amended, 2024 International Plumbing Code as amended, 2023 National Electric Code as amended, 2024 International Fuel Gas Code as amended, and the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code as amended.)

● Check that local or regional design criteria matches location, including:

○ Winter design temp

○ Snow load

○ Wind speed and topographic effects

○ Seismic design category

○ Weathering

○ Frost line depth

○ Termite damage

○ Ice barrier underlayment requirement

○ Flood hazards

○ Air freezing index

○ Mean annual temperature

○ Fire suppression (if applicable)

○ Wildfire mitigation (if applicable)

○ Radon (if applicable)

○ Setbacks (for fire separation)

○ Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) separation

In depth review for residential building code compliance:

2024 Building Codes

● Trusses

○ Minimum wind and snow load (per local or regional design)

○ Spacing

● Minimum clearance and spacing of plumbing and electrical fixtures

● Minimum clearances to obstructions

● Minimum access

● Minimum area

● Minimum room sizes (WxH)

● Opening sizes for doors and windows

● Minimum route width

○ Halls

○ Doors

○ Stairs

● Carbon monoxide and smoke detection

○ Locations

○ Spacing

○ Clearances from obstructions and applicable openings

○ Not on a designated circuit

● Ventilation and lighting

● Fire separation (gas fire appliances in basement, crawlspace, other dwelling units, and garages)

2023 NEC (As Amended)

● Minimum clearances and spacing

● Minimum clearances to obstructions

● Minimum access

● Minimum Area

● Wet locations

● GFI and AFCI protection

2021 IECC

● Compliance path (Prescriptive or Performance, Energy Rating Index)

○ Prescriptive

■ Meets minimum R or U factor values for climate zone

○ Performance (most likely ResCheck)

■ Documentation submitted

■ Passing score

○ Energy Rating Index (ERI)

■ Documentation submitted

● Mechanical load documentation (manual J, D, S)

○ Documentation submitted

○ Correct winter design temp

○ Correct R or U factor (reference compliance path documentation)

Colorado Model Electric and Solar Ready Code

● Roof area size

● Solar ready zones

● Access pathways

● Panel size

○ Designated space for solar, electric, EV equipment

● Electrical pathways to panel

Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code

● Structure Hardening 1 or 2 requirement compliance

Regional Design Criteria

● In July 2026, the program is implementing regional design criteria criteria. The system should ensure that the construction plans submitted as a “regional model plan” align with regional design criteria. See the regional design table.

Payment Processing

● The system should be able to process payments for review fees and should be able to accommodate payments made by check or credit card. DOlA currently charges fees by the square footage of the structure, but are open to alternative approaches to calculating totals.

Integrations

● System should be able to integrate with Salesforce and other potential software systems as needed.

Reporting and Auditing

● System should be able to produce records of previous reviews and identify logic on how the decision was made. This is inclusive of the AI initial review and recorded changes or edits completed by the human reviewers. That product should be able to be produced upon request by customers, in order to be in compliance with SB24-205.

● Reports should be able to be generated to identify recurring issues or mistakes on submitted plans, revision rate causation, etc.

User Administration

● Reviews and codes should be able to be changed and updated to comply with all Division of Housing code requirements.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VVcKaZ9-EWTVJN0OM1_gh9M292DsoMVL635zyZnCXQE/edit?usp=sharing https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb24-205

● Training to allow for staff managed updates as code changes require.

Goals

● Develop a system that will be able to act as an initial reviewer for all plan submissions.

● Develop a system that is able to audit previously conducted plan reviews.

● Lower resubmittal rates for plan reviews and increase accuracy of submittals.

● Decrease staff time spent on plan reviews and decrease turn around time for plan reviews.

● Aggregate trends and insights from plans that have undergone review processes. Trends and insights may include: frequently identified issues/problems, submitters that incur high revision rates, root cause analysis of high revision rates, analysis of regional zones and analysis of the projected needs and timelines for adjustment of the regional zones.

Statement of Work

The Division of Housing (the Division) understands that no single vendor or consultant may have the ability to provide all of the information requested in this RFI. We encourage you to provide any information you can.

The Division anticipates there are various pricing structures. Describe the pricing for the products and services that relate to this RFI to the fullest extent possible. This should be inclusive of any minimum amount of plans (residential or non-residential) that would need to be submitted each year or required cost per plan submission. This should also include comparisons of cost if the system uses the IBC or the IRC for the plan review. Advise if the product or services can do both IBC and IRC plan reviews based on structure type and that codes reviewed are Colorado specific design criteria.

If the system can review closed construction panels, or unique structures types like 3D printed homes, or structures using a shipping container as the base please include pricing structure for these options. The Division is looking for vendor responses to include estimates for the following items:

1. Initial Discovery with the customer to validate and update the Business

Requirements Document (BRD)

2. Design sessions to validate the User Interface and User Experience

3. Technical Architecture and Security requirements discussion and collaboration with the Office of Information Technology (OIT). Learn more about OIT's

Technical Standards policies. Must be approved by the OIT and the Governor’s

Office if applicable.

4. Construction of all system architecture components to support the customer requirements. Details should include any 3rd party/add on components used in the vendor solution. Description of components and estimates based on monthly usage.

5. Unit integration and system testing of all components prior to release to User

Acceptance Testing (UAT)

6. Support of UAT and Defect Resolution

7. Go live planning and support

8. Post implementation warranty period

9. Vendor solution must integrate with existing Salesforce instance

10. Vendor must provide support throughout development, testing, deployment and through infancy period

11. Anticipated ongoing maintenance

12. Required licensing fees

13. Project Lifecycle Management (PLM) document deliverables to include:

a. Project Schedule

b. Technical Architecture Assessment

c. Technical Architecture Plan

d. Security Risk Assessment

e. Disaster Recovery Plan

f. Implementation and Sustainability Plan https://oit.colorado.gov/standards-policies-guides/technical-standards-policies https://oit.colorado.gov/standards-policies-guides/technical-standards-policies

g. System Security Plan (SSP)

h. Vulnerability and Penetration scans

i. Security Remediation Plan (for High & Critical items)

j. Test Plan

k. Training Plan

l. Communications Matrix

m. Lessons learned

Information Requested

Who We Are Looking For

We are particularly interested in hearing from firms with experience in implementing similar AI solutions within state-level systems. Additionally, any experience with the following areas would be valuable:

● Expertise in developing AI systems for code/regulatory compliance, preferably in building construction.

● Experience with natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) to analyze and interpret building plans.

● Experience with developing user-friendly interfaces for complex systems.

● Experience with working with government agencies and stakeholders to gather requirements and ensure compliance.

● Experience with agile development methodologies.

● Experience with piloting and scaling AI systems.

Submittal Information

In one or two brief paragraphs, please describe your organization.

A. Has your organization previously contracted for information technology systems with a state government agency? If yes, please describe the services and information made available to that agency and how it is being used, if it is.

Please make note if the system includes the use of artificial intelligence.

B. Provide the number and type of customers, highlighting the number of federal, state, local governmental or quasi-governmental agencies which use your services.

C. Provide a description of your experience in:

a. Development and deployment of artificial intelligence review systems

b. Architectural plan reviews

c. Working with government entities

d. Systems integration

D. Include contact information, including the organization name, individual name, phone number, and email address.

Please reply with as much information as you may have regarding the Division’s described needs. Respond to those item(s) for which you have information or ideas.

All respondents should answer part D of the “Submittal Information” section above by providing background information on your organization.

Administration Information

This RFI is issued solely for informational and planning purposes and does not constitute a formal solicitation. As the respondent, you are voluntarily submitting information about costs and pricing. This information is non-binding. Responses to this

RFI will not be considered legal offers nor will they result in an award or any type of contract.

The intent of this RFI is for informational gathering purposes only. At this time, the

DOLA is solely interested in receiving information from potentially interested offerors or any other sources of information.

The DOLA is not responsible for any costs you may incur to develop and provide a response to this RFI.

Administration Information