RFP J27118 Court Appointed Counsel-First Circuit, Family Court

The Judiciary, State of Hawaii is soliciting proposals for court-appointed counsel services for indigent parents in Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 587A proceedings in the Family Court of the First Circuit, with proposals due July 31, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time via the Hawaii Electronic Procurement System (HIePRO).

The RFP contemplates awards to up to two contractors to manage approximately 237 current cases and 150 new annual filings across four non-specialty courtrooms and specialty courts including Family Drug Court and Na Kama Lei. Legal services include case representation, client advocacy, motion preparation, investigation, settlement negotiation, and appellate representation. All attorneys must be licensed in Hawaii and demonstrate knowledge of child abuse and neglect dynamics, family violence, substance abuse, relevant statutes, and family law. Contractors must maintain Commercial General Liability Insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate, Professional Liability Insurance of $1,000,000 per claim, Automobile Insurance of $1,000,000, and Workers' Compensation Insurance. Staff must complete background checks and Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem Program training within 90 days of execution and a minimum of twenty hours of annual continuing education in relevant topics.

The initial contract term runs from execution through June 30, 2027, with options to extend for up to three additional twelve-month periods, subject to available funding and satisfactory performance. Cost proposals should be submitted on an annual basis and include all applicable taxes and necessary expenses. A mandatory 0.75% transaction fee applies, not to exceed $5,000 for the total contract term.

Evaluation criteria include contractor qualifications and experience in family law and child welfare, scope of services, cost, proposal completeness, approach to legal representation including staffing and quality assurance plans, and service integration strategies. The tentative award date is August 2026, with anticipated contract start in September 2026. Service contracts exceeding $25,000 require certification of compliance with HRS Section 103-55 regarding employee wages, hours, and working conditions, with wages paid at rates not less than public sector employees performing similar work.