AI for transportation project costing

The South Carolina Department of Transportation is issuing a Request for Information on artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions for transportation project costing, with responses due September 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM. This is a market-research RFI (solicitation number 5400029852) and does not constitute a formal solicitation or binding contractual action; no contract will be awarded and respondents will not be compensated for information provided.

SCDOT seeks vendor input on current and emerging AI, machine learning, predictive analytics, and generative AI capabilities that support cost estimating across the full project delivery lifecycle—planning-level cost projections, program development estimates, project scoping estimates, preliminary design estimates, and engineer's estimates prior to advertisement and letting. The agency explicitly states it is exploring AI-enabled technologies to augment rather than replace engineering judgment, with particular interest in human-in-the-loop frameworks that provide explainability, confidence scores, and allow engineers to modify or override recommendations.

Respondents should address available technologies, potential use cases, benefits and limitations, implementation approaches, data requirements, cost considerations, risks and challenges, and lessons learned from other organizations. SCDOT maintains significant historical data assets including bid tabulations, awarded contract data, pay item databases, quantity histories, unit price histories, and project characteristics that could support implementation.

Responses must be submitted online in native Microsoft Office format to Procurement Manager Jeffery C. Schwalk at SchwalkJC@scdot.gov and are limited to 35 single-sided pages, excluding title page, cover letter, and table of contents. Information marked as confidential, proprietary, or trade secret will be protected under South Carolina Freedom of Information Law if vendors clearly identify such materials and demonstrate substantial competitive harm from disclosure. Vendors should focus on specific capabilities rather than generalized marketing statements and may suggest additional categories beyond those requested. Jeffery C. Schwalk is the sole point of contact; respondents are prohibited from contacting other SCDOT personnel regarding this RFI.