Request for Information (RFI) Road Weather Information System (RWIS) Data Management and Display System

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) issued a Request for Information (RFI) on March 31, 2017, seeking vendor-hosted solutions to replace its current in-house remote processor unit (RPU) polling system for the Road Weather Information System (RWIS) Data Management and Display System (RDMDS). The procurement targets a comprehensive data management solution that will poll 68 total remote processing units across 72 county highway departments, including 51 SSI/Vaisala units and 17 Lufft units. Specific deliverables include a vendor-managed system capable of polling RPUs at specified intervals, processing and storing road weather data, and providing a web-based interface for statewide data viewing and retrieval. WisDOT requested detailed vendor responses addressing system communication capabilities, compatibility with existing ESP-RPU equipment, website hosting and maintenance models, data integration standards, security architecture, implementation timelines, pricing models, and staffing requirements. The RFI responses were due by April 27, 2017, at 2:00 PM CDT, with the primary objective of gathering information to aid in developing and deploying an advanced RWIS data management system.

The RFI did not specify any specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The current system involves polling Vaisala sites via a WisDOT-owned Madison server at 20-minute intervals during winter months (October 1 through April 30) and 4-hour intervals during summer months (May 1 through September 30), with data currently transmitted to a Vaisala server in St. Louis, Missouri. Lufft USA sites are currently polled via their own server using wireless modem connections. The RFI emphasized the need for a new system that can integrate data from multiple equipment vendors into a single web platform accessible to state, county, and municipal personnel, with particular consideration for county departments' operational independence. While no specific budget range was mentioned, the procurement seeks a comprehensive solution that can replace the existing in-house polling system with a vendor-hosted alternative. The RFI explicitly stated that it is for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute a binding solicitation or contract.