Request for Information (RFI) – AI Solution for Appellate Case Categorization

The Court of Appeals, Fifth District of Texas, has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking an artificial intelligence solution for appellate case categorization. The primary objective is to develop an AI system capable of classifying cases into No Oral Argument (NORA) and Oral Argument (ORA) tracks, with the goal of improving administrative efficiency while preserving judicial decision-making authority. Potential solution providers must submit detailed information on development and operational costs, offering a transparent pricing model that includes implementation, licensing, maintenance, and usage-based AI processing expenses. The RFI requires the AI solution to operate within Microsoft Azure Government Cloud, support a minimum of 100 concurrent users, and maintain 99.5% availability during business hours. Key procurement dates include a virtual information session on September 29, 2025, provider questions due by October 3, 2025, and responses due by October 17, 2025. The Court plans to select a solution in fall 2025, contract by year-end, and have the solution deployed for training by May 31, 2026, with continued support and refinement through August 30, 2026.

The RFI does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. However, solution providers must demonstrate robust technical capabilities specifically tailored to a judicial environment and comply with the Texas Responsible AI Governance Act. The solution must incorporate comprehensive AI-specific practices addressing transparency, bias mitigation, model drift, and risk management. Providers must ensure data ownership remains with the Court and implement rigorous security measures. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the Court seeks a "Not to Exceed" cost structure to ensure budget predictability. The procurement is open to solution providers across various industries, with a focus on those capable of meeting the unique technological and regulatory requirements of a judicial AI categorization system. The Court emphasizes the importance of maintaining judicial integrity while leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline case management processes.