The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to solicit information regarding American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter services for incarcerated youth at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF) that align with the mission of the Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Youth Services (OYS). OYS is committed to supporting Hawaii’s youth through balanced, community-based, and family-focused approaches that prevent delinquency, reduce recidivism, and maximize opportunities for positive youth development. Through this RFI, OYS seeks information on services that provide safe, accessible, and developmentally appropriate ASL services for vulnerable youth, while also supporting coordinated pathways to stabilization and long-term care. These services are intended to address both immediate access and safety needs to underlying factors contributing to youth challenges in a correctional setting. OYS is exploring a coordinated approach that integrates collaboration, stabilization, and continuum of care to address the required needs of incarcerated youth who are primarily Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, or any other disability meeting eligibility under Federal and Hawaii State Laws, Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Title II. Chapter 218, needing communication access services. These on-site and/or remote services shall provide youth communication access to services for youth incarcerated at HYCF in Kailua, Hawaii. The service components described below are intended to provide a general framework for discussion. OYS is seeking input on appropriate service design, structure, and delivery approaches to best meet the needs of these vulnerable youth. The scope of work outlined below is provided for informational purposes and is unintended to assist OYS in refining service expectations for a future Request for Proposals (RFP). For the purposes of this RFI, “American Sign Language” is defined as visual language used by the deaf and hard-of-hearing in America. It is a complete language with its own grammar, not a signed form of English. Description of the Service: 1. General Overview a. To provide a range of professional and qualified ASL services, including but not limited to the following.  Services may be held on weekends from 8:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. and weekdays from 11:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m., including STATE holidays.  Assist youth with daily rehabilitation and educational programs.  Assist youth with communications that may include legal and/or court appearances.  Provide equitable, fair, and unbiased ASL services to youth incarcerated at HYCF. 2. Service Provider Responsibilities a. Provide communication access services which include ASL, to support youth with their rehabilitation, educational, and any related correctional programs aligned with youth required programs. b. Collaborate with HYCF staff and personnel who have immediate and intrinsic concern for the rehabilitative, social, personal, and/or vocational development of deaf and hard-of-hearing students in the correctional environment. This collaboration is in consultation with and at the discretion of the HYCF Administrator. c. Ensure the providers hold certifications in ASL credentials that are awarded to providers and issued by the Hawaii State Sign Language Interpreter Credential issued by the State Disability and Communication access board. The OYS and HYCF are interested in gathering information and feedback through this RFI orientation session, to ensure we are capturing the need to provide ASL services to our youth at HYCF and ensure compliance with all correctional care in a juvenile facility setting. Deadline For Responses: The deadline for receipt of comments, suggestions, and feedback for this RFI is due: Before and no later than April 15, 2026, by 2:30 p.m. Hawai`i Standard Time (HST). Written comments, suggestions, and other feedback for consideration in the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the ASL Interpreter Services for Incarcerated Youth scope of work requirements shall be submitted to OYS, as follows: HMS-503-26-10 RFI Orientation for ASL Interpreter Services for Incarcerated Youth. Email address: tkahookele@dhs.hawaii.gov ~ Facsimile (FAX) phone number: (808) 587-5734. Participation in the RFI orientation process is optional and not required to respond to any subsequent procurement solicitation by the OYS. Neither the OYS nor any interested party responding to this RFI has any obligation under the RFI. The OYS may engage in further informal discussions to gather additional information and recommendations to assist in developing the RFP. Interested organizations, public entities and private organizations, consortia of these agencies, and/or concerned individuals may provide suggestions, comments and feedback for consideration for the Scope of Work and RFP requirements by attending an RFI Orientation Session on: JOIN RFI ZOOM MEETING: Topic: RFI HMS-503-26-10: ASL Services for Incarcerated Youth Time: Apr 10, 2026, at 1:00 PM HST Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81197393344?pwd=r6uxf5H5thGS0JionAB6KjYWma11FO.1 Meeting ID: 811 9739 3344 Passcode: 710828 --- One tap mobile +13462487799,,81197393344#,,,,*710828# US (Houston) +16694449171,,81197393344#,,,,*710828# US Join instructions https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/81197393344/invitations?signature=uCN4AbInZszltulLUrE_f6V6POLQZc5oRyQtWmQRA5o

Solicitation No.

HMS-503-26-10

Type / RFx

RFI

Status

Open

Level

state

Published Date

April 1, 2026

Due Date

April 16, 2026

NAICS Code

624190AI guide

Jurisdiction

State of Hawaii

State

Hawaii

Agency

Human Services

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to solicit information regarding American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter services for incarcerated youth at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF) that align with the mission of the Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Youth Services (OYS). OYS is committed to supporting Hawaii’s youth through balanced, community-based, and family-focused approaches that prevent delinquency, reduce recidivism, and maximize opportunities for positive youth development. Through this RFI, OYS seeks information on services that provide safe, accessible, and developmentally appropriate ASL services for vulnerable youth, while also supporting coordinated pathways to stabilization and long-term care. These services are intended to address both immediate access and safety needs to underlying factors contributing to youth challenges in a correctional setting. OYS is exploring a coordinated approach that integrates collaboration, stabilization, and continuum of care to address the required needs of incarcerated youth who are primarily Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, or any other disability meeting eligibility under Federal and Hawaii State Laws, Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Title II. Chapter 218, needing communication access services. These on-site and/or remote services shall provide youth communication access to services for youth incarcerated at HYCF in Kailua, Hawaii. The service components described below are intended to provide a general framework for discussion. OYS is seeking input on appropriate service design, structure, and delivery approaches to best meet the needs of these vulnerable youth. The scope of work outlined below is provided for informational purposes and is unintended to assist OYS in refining service expectations for a future Request for Proposals (RFP). For the purposes of this RFI, “American Sign Language” is defined as visual language used by the deaf and hard-of-hearing in America. It is a complete language with its own grammar, not a signed form of English. Description of the Service: 1. General Overview a. To provide a range of professional and qualified ASL services, including but not limited to the following.  Services may be held on weekends from 8:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. and weekdays from 11:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m., including STATE holidays.  Assist youth with daily rehabilitation and educational programs.  Assist youth with communications that may include legal and/or court appearances.  Provide equitable, fair, and unbiased ASL services to youth incarcerated at HYCF. 2. Service Provider Responsibilities a. Provide communication access services which include ASL, to support youth with their rehabilitation, educational, and any related correctional programs aligned with youth required programs. b. Collaborate with HYCF staff and personnel who have immediate and intrinsic concern for the rehabilitative, social, personal, and/or vocational development of deaf and hard-of-hearing students in the correctional environment. This collaboration is in consultation with and at the discretion of the HYCF Administrator. c. Ensure the providers hold certifications in ASL credentials that are awarded to providers and issued by the Hawaii State Sign Language Interpreter Credential issued by the State Disability and Communication access board. The OYS and HYCF are interested in gathering information and feedback through this RFI orientation session, to ensure we are capturing the need to provide ASL services to our youth at HYCF and ensure compliance with all correctional care in a juvenile facility setting. Deadline For Responses: The deadline for receipt of comments, suggestions, and feedback for this RFI is due: Before and no later than April 15, 2026, by 2:30 p.m. Hawai`i Standard Time (HST). Written comments, suggestions, and other feedback for consideration in the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the ASL Interpreter Services for Incarcerated Youth scope of work requirements shall be submitted to OYS, as follows: HMS-503-26-10 RFI Orientation for ASL Interpreter Services for Incarcerated Youth. Email address: tkahookele@dhs.hawaii.gov ~ Facsimile (FAX) phone number: (808) 587-5734. Participation in the RFI orientation process is optional and not required to respond to any subsequent procurement solicitation by the OYS. Neither the OYS nor any interested party responding to this RFI has any obligation under the RFI. The OYS may engage in further informal discussions to gather additional information and recommendations to assist in developing the RFP. Interested organizations, public entities and private organizations, consortia of these agencies, and/or concerned individuals may provide suggestions, comments and feedback for consideration for the Scope of Work and RFP requirements by attending an RFI Orientation Session on: JOIN RFI ZOOM MEETING: Topic: RFI HMS-503-26-10: ASL Services for Incarcerated Youth Time: Apr 10, 2026, at 1:00 PM HST Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81197393344?pwd=r6uxf5H5thGS0JionAB6KjYWma11FO.1 Meeting ID: 811 9739 3344 Passcode: 710828 --- One tap mobile +13462487799,,81197393344#,,,,*710828# US (Houston) +16694449171,,81197393344#,,,,*710828# US Join instructions https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/81197393344/invitations?signature=uCN4AbInZszltulLUrE_f6V6POLQZc5oRyQtWmQRA5o

1. April 1, 2026Published
2. April 16, 2026Responses Due