RFP 27 20 Sports Strategy Study Green Fee Project

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is requesting proposals for a comprehensive Statewide Sports Tourism Study under RFP 27-20, with proposals due October 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM HST and written questions due October 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM HST. The contract is fixed-price with a maximum compensation of $325,500 USD, tax inclusive, covering all labor, materials, equipment, travel, and administrative costs.

The scope requires data-driven analysis of sports tourism viability and net economic benefit; identification of high-value sporting events for Hawaii's shoulder periods (March–June and September–early December); assessment of existing sports infrastructure across all six Hawaiian islands; evaluation of community impacts and mitigation strategies; examination of strategic partnerships with athletes and training grounds; and compilation of findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation into a final report due no later than March 31, 2027. Contract performance runs from November 2026 through May 31, 2027.

Minimum qualifications are ten years of professional experience conducting sports tourism studies and economic impact evaluations for governmental agencies and tourism authorities, with demonstrated expertise in data analysis, multi-stakeholder coordination, and cultural sensitivity. Vendors must hold a Certificate of Vendor Compliance (CVC) demonstrating compliance with Hawaii state tax, labor, and commerce requirements. Contractors must maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, plus automobile liability insurance of $1,000,000 for bodily injury and property damage. All offerors must be registered on HIePRO prior to submission.

Proposals are evaluated on experience and qualifications (20 points), proposed approach (40 points), past performance and case studies (20 points), references (5 points), and price (15 points). Award notification is estimated for the week of October 26, 2026. Offerors must submit a two-PDF package containing cover materials, company overview, organizational chart, proposed approach and workplan, detailed budget, and required compliance attachments including Offeror Checklist, Proposal Transmittal Letter, Corporate Resolution, Standard Qualifications Questionnaire, contractor and subcontractor references, Confidential Information List if applicable, Conflicts of Interest Disclosures and Attestations, and Certification of Non-Debarment. The Legislature appropriated funds for this effort to inform strategic investment and policy decisions on sports tourism in Hawaii.