August 5, 2008

Notice of Competitive Sealed Proposal Solicitation

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) invites your written proposal to administer the Hawaiian Home Lands Scholarships Program (HHLSP) for the Academic Years 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. HHLSP currently offers two post-high scholarships: the Hawaiian Homes Commission Scholarship (HHCS) and Career and Technical Education Scholarship (CTES).

The HHCS provides financial award scholarships to qualified native Hawaiians enrolled as classified full-time students in degree-seeking programs at accredited post-high institutions. The scholarships are to be used for the primary cost of education (limited to tuition, fees, books, supplies, and cost of living allowances). The CTES provides financial award scholarships to qualified native Hawaiians pursuing or enrolled into a certificate or degree vocational program designed to teach students skills for a specific segment of employment. These programs include building industry apprenticeships, medical technology and nursing, culinary arts, auto repairs, and computer repairs and graphics.

DHHL is seeking an organization, hereinafter referred as "CONTRACTOR," with experience in administering post-high school scholarships.

1. CONTRACTOR shall accept a grant of THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($325,000.00) from DHHL, to be used solely for direct financial assistance to qualified applicants. CONTRACTOR shall designate no less than THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($300,000.00) of the $325,000.00 for the HHCS Program and no less then TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000.00) for the CTES Program. Administrative and operational costs will be negotiated and are separate and in addition to the $325,000.00.

2. CONTRACTOR shall submit a detailed program plan, pursuant to the following criteria:

a. Student eligibility. Applicants must:

(1) Be native Hawaiian (50% or more Hawaiian ancestry);

(2) Be DHHL homestead lessee (25% or more Hawaiian ancestry);

(3) Be a classified student in a degree-seeking program for the HHCS program;

(4) Be enrolled full-time in an accredited post-high educational institution for the HHCS program;

(5) Demonstrate academic achievement or excellence based on a standard 4.0 grading system for the HHCS program. HHCS satisfactory academic standard minimum for undergraduate students is 2.0 and above, and for graduate-level students is 2.5 and above; and

(6) Be enrolled in a vocational degree or certification program in Hawai i for the CTES Program.

b. Award Standards. CONTRACTOR may calculate individual awards according to the standard primary cost of education (Including tuition, fees, books, supplies, and cost of living allowances), will determine a family's financial contribution in accordance with the U.S. Department of Education's federal needs analysis methodology, or recommend an award standard methodology developed by the CONTRACTOR.

c. CONTRACTOR to publicize the HHCS and CTES programs to seek qualified recipients (e.g., announcements, print media, college, and financial aid fairs).

d. CONTRACTOR shall provide an end-of-program report to the Chairman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission (HHC) and make presentation to (HHC) on its activities, the HHCS and CTES programs results, and financial statements.

e. CONTRACTOR may be requested to include additional services (counseling services).

3. Program Administration. CONTRACTOR shall include a description of the personnel to administer the program, i.e., financial aid specialists, who assess, select, and monitor recipients, fiscal staff who process documents and check disbursements; and data staff who track students' information; and an administrator who oversees the HHCS and CTES programs.

4. DHHL's Role and Responsibilities. DHHL shall verify potential applicants' native Hawaiian qualification and provide a list to the CONTRACTOR a list of eligible candidates no later than August 1, 2008 for the 2008-2009 HHCS and CTES Programs and no later than May 15, 2009 for the 2009-2010 HHCS and CTES Programs.

5. One-Year Extension. DHHL shall have the option to offer a one-year extension to the CONTRACTOR subject to CONTRACTOR's compliance and satisfactory performance.