RFP J27083-General Civil Legal Services, The Judiciary

The State of Hawaii Judiciary is soliciting proposals to provide general civil legal services at no cost to indigent residents statewide, defined as individuals with incomes not exceeding 250 percent of the federal poverty level for Hawaii. The contract requires attorneys or attorney-supervised staff to deliver direct legal services in key areas such as housing, government benefits, family law, immigration, and other civil matters impacting low-income individuals. Services must be available across all four judicial circuits—Oahu, Maui-Lana-i-Moloka-i, Hawaii Island, and Kauai—with providers expected to coordinate with the Judiciary to ensure statewide coverage. Proposals must include a detailed budget using prescribed forms, demonstrate proven experience and capability in civil legal service delivery, present a reasonable staffing plan with appropriate client-to-staff ratios, and maintain a quality assurance plan that outlines mission, service delivery methods, and performance evaluation standards. Award decisions will be based on a weighted scoring system prioritizing service delivery (55 points), followed by experience and capability (20 points), project organization and staffing (15 points), and financial reasonableness (10 points), with program overview serving only as orientation. The evaluation process is structured and quantitative, conducted by a committee with expertise in service delivery and financing. The initial contract term runs from execution through June 30, 2027, with a potential one-year extension contingent upon satisfactory performance and fund availability, requiring a written amendment for any extension. Payment is milestone-based, with an initial payment expected in the last quarter of 2026, a second in early 2027, and a final payment upon contract completion, all contingent upon certified invoices and required reports attesting to services rendered in compliance with contract terms. Contractors must adhere to stringent compliance standards, including Hawaii-specific tax clearance for contracts over $25,000, business registration with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and compliance with federal and state labor, nondiscrimination, and accessibility laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VI. Providers are required to conduct fingerprint-based criminal history checks and sex offender registry searches for staff with unsupervised access to vulnerable clients, maintain a drug-free workplace and smoking policy consistent with state law, ensure electronic accessibility under Hawaii’s IT standards, and carry automobile liability insurance for state-used vehicles. All personal data handled under the contract must be protected with technological safeguards, and security breaches must be reported in accordance with Chapter 487N, HRS. Records are to be retained for three