Public Utilities Commission Website Redesign and Modernization

The contract involves a project to redesign and modernize the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) website, emphasizing an intuitive, searchable, accessible, and visually engaging user experience. The scope includes developing multimedia assets, implementation instructions, and deploying the design on the existing WordPress platform utilizing the State’s Block Theme Template hosted by ETS. The project aims to enhance content management, maintenance, and operational ease for PUC Communications and IT staff. The procurement is managed by the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, with an estimated contract value ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, and a fixed budget not to exceed $80,000 for the initial nine-month period starting around February 2026, with a possible six-month renewal. The solicitation, posted in November 2025, emphasizes accessibility, user-centered design, and ongoing content support, with proposal submission due in December 2025. The selection process evaluates proposals based on technical approach (30 points), demonstrated success and capabilities (30 points), experience and qualifications of key personnel (30 points), and cost (10 points). The process favors a trade-off approach, prioritizing technical merit and organizational capacity over price. Key contractual provisions include requirements for key personnel approval, potential contract extensions, termination rights, intellectual property rights granting the State broad usage licenses, and strict compliance with Hawaii labor and tax laws. The contract also mandates insurance, conflict of interest disclosures, and detailed subcontractor management. Deliverables include project plans, wireframes, multimedia assets, testing documentation, and manuals, with acceptance contingent on the State’s review and approval at designated locations in Honolulu. The procurement emphasizes strict proposal formatting, with a focus on experience, methodology, and cost-effectiveness, and requires certifications related to independence, legal compliance, and subcontractor disclosures.