Request for Information for Immigrant Resource Centers

The State of Hawaii Office of Community Services (OCS), administratively attached to the State of Hawaii's Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR), is seeking information, input, and recommendations to continue and improve the delivery of its Immigrant Resource Center programs. These are recurring statewide programs receiving State funds through the DLIR to improve access to government services for immigrants and increase opportunities for immigrants to make civic and economic contributions to the community.

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain community input in preparation for developing separate Requests for Proposals (RFPs) (OCS-LBR 903-12_27 – Hawaii County, OCS-LBR 903-13_27 – Maui County, OCS-LBR 903-14_27- Kauai County, OCS-LBR 903-11_27 – City and County of Honolulu) to procure and award multiple contracts to administer these programs for the various counties of the State of Hawaii. [...] The services will be procured for the period of April 1, 2027 to March 31, 2028, subject to the availability of funds.

The present Request for Information seeks:

• Suggestions on the focus of services in the IRCs – whether to continue with services as currently being rendered or whether, and if so how, to modify the said services;
• Suggestions on the parameters for any future community needs assessments that may be conducted to determine the immigrant communities' needs for each island;
• Suggestions on immigration statuses to be eligible for IRC services
• Suggestions on income levels to be eligible for IRC services
• Suggestions on the necessary staffing for each IRC to address the needs for each island;
• Suggestions on provisions, terms, and conditions to include in the IRC contracts;
• Suggestions on the type of services the respective IRCs should be prioritized for each island;
• Suggestions on the specific immigrant communities the specific IRCs should be focusing on serving for each island;
• Suggestions on how IRCs can improve outreach and engagement with immigrant communities; and
• Other relevant suggestions and recommendations.

At a minimum, all applicants shall provide, either directly or indirectly, services in the following categories:

• Outreach.
• Intake and Needs Assessment.
• Interpretation and Translation.
• Referrals to Community Services.

In addition to the foregoing minimum services, all applicants shall provide directly, or through partnerships and/or subcontracts with other local organizations, the following service categories:

• Information and Acculturation.
• Case Management.
• Immigration Assistance.

Please submit written responses, comments or questions relating to this Request for Information by **Friday, November 20, 2026**.

Please do not submit a complete proposal in response to this RFI. Participation is optional and response, or lack thereof, to this RFI does not preclude any applicant participation in the RFP process.

OCS may engage in further informal discussions to gather additional information and recommendations.

Neither the State of Hawaii, OCS, nor the respondents have any obligation under this request. OCS reserves the right to incorporate any recommendations, in whole or in part, received in response to this RFI in its RFP.