The City of Bismarck is seeking proposals for a comprehensive, cloud-hosted software solution to support permitting, licensing, inspections, code enforcement, and related regulatory workflows across multiple City departments. In addition, the City is seeking solutions that can support enterprise Asset Management and Work Order Management, either as integrated components of the same platform or as a standalone system that interoperates with the permitting and licensing solution.

The purpose of this procurement is to replace fragmented legacy systems and manual processes with modern, integrated software solutions that improve regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, data integrity, and public access to City services. The selected solution(s) must support the full lifecycle of permits and licenses—from application and review through inspection, enforcement, renewal, and closeout—while also enabling the tracking and management of City assets, service requests, inspections, and reactive and preventive maintenance work orders.

This initiative aligns with the City’s strategic objectives for digital transformation, improved customer service, and data-driven decision-making. The proposed solution(s) must support complex, multi-departmental workflows, accommodate evolving regulatory requirements, and scale with the City’s anticipated growth, while allowing flexibility in system architecture to support either a unified platform or best-of-breed integrated solutions.

• Modernizing Regulatory Processes
Provide a unified system for managing permits, licenses, inspections, and code enforcement activities, reducing reliance on paper-based and disconnected systems.
• Improving Public Access and Transparency
Deliver a secure, user-friendly online portal that allows residents, contractors, and businesses to apply for permits and licenses, track application status, schedule inspections, make payments, and access historical records with minimal barriers to entry.
• Supporting Complex Departmental Workflows
Accommodate multi-step, multi-department plan review processes; conditional approvals; inspection dependencies; and automated license renewal workflows aligned with City and State requirements.
• Enabling Mobile and Field Operations
Provide full-featured mobile access for field staff, including offline functionality, photo capture and annotation, GIS-based workflows, and real-time synchronization.
• Ensuring Data Integrity, Security, and Compliance
Support role-based security, audit trails, records retention requirements, and integration with existing City systems, including GIS and financial platforms.
• Providing Long-Term Flexibility and Interoperability
Support open standards, APIs, and integration capabilities to allow future system expansion, third-party integrations, and potential alignment with enterprise asset management or work order systems.

The City recognizes that enterprise Asset Management and Work Order Management functionality may be delivered through a standalone solution separate from the permitting and licensing platform. Proposers may include asset-related functionality as an integrated component or as a tightly integrated third-party solution; however, the primary focus of this RFP is regulatory and permitting operations. Vendors must clearly identify which components are native to their platform and which are provided through integrations.

This procurement represents a foundational step toward implementing a unified regulatory platform that supports the City of Bismarck’s long-term vision for responsive governance, regulatory accountability, and enhanced service delivery to residents, businesses, and development partners.