Project Overview

The University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges (UHCC) is seeking a qualified technology partner to design, develop, and implement an AI-integrated career pathways platform that supports students from middle school through postsecondary education and into the workforce.

The platform will serve as a statewide digital bridge between K-12 education, higher education, workforce training, and labor market data, offering personalized, explainable career and education pathway recommendations aligned to Hawaiʻi’s workforce needs.

Scope of Work (Requirements)

The selected vendor will be responsible for delivering a secure, scalable, AI-driven platform that includes:

User Experience & Accessibility

• Age-appropriate interfaces for students, parents, educators, and administrators
• Responsive design for desktop, tablet, and mobile
• WCAG 2.1 Level AA and Section 508 accessibility compliance
• Multi-language support (English, Hawaiian, Pacific languages, expandable)

AI & Career Pathway Functionality

• AI-powered career exploration and personalized pathway recommendations
• Explainable AI (XAI) showing how recommendations are generated
• Bias detection and mitigation strategies
• Ongoing model training and performance monitoring

Data Integration & Management

• Secure integration with HIDOE, UH credit and non-credit systems, and labor market data (BLS, O*NET, SOC/CIP alignment)
• Automated data updates, validation, and error reporting
• No transmission of PII to third-party AI services

Platform Architecture & Security

• Cloud, on-premise, or hybrid deployment options
• Containerized, modular architecture with APIs
• FERPA-compliant data protection and cybersecurity controls

Reporting, Training & Support

• Dashboards and analytics for policymakers and administrators
• User acceptance testing, documentation, and training
• Post-launch maintenance and support with renewal options up to five years

Key Dates

• RFP Issued: January 25, 2026
• Questions Due: February 3, 2026
• Responses to Questions Posted: February 9, 2026
• Proposals Due: February 25, 2026 (2:30 PM HST)
• Anticipated Award: March 9, 2026
• Tentative Contract Start: March 16, 2026
• Implementation Timeline: Within 180 calendar days of Notice to Proceed

Budget

No fixed budget is disclosed. 

Why This Is a Great Opportunity

This is a strong opportunity for AI platform providers, EdTech firms, data analytics companies, and workforce technology vendors with experience in recommendation engines, large-scale data integration, and public-sector systems.

The project offers statewide visibility, long-term partnership potential, and meaningful impact by shaping how Hawaiʻi students explore careers, education, and workforce pathways using responsible AI.

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