The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) has recently issued a request for proposals (RFP) for structuring services to create a broadband infrastructure in the state through a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

DBEDT is leading the State’s Hawaii Broadband Initiative (HBI) with the intent to make landing a new transpacific fiber optic cable in Hawaii less expensive and quicker than the current options.

To aid in this effort, DBEDT seeks assistance in working with the private sector to procure, finance and/or operate through a three year contract a State-sponsored carrier neutral landing station or stations to best leverage US$25 million of reimbursable general obligation bond funding.

The project consists of two phases:

• Phase I planning and preparation of the RFP with the Project Partner. Issuing the RFP for the project and negotiating and awarding of contract, if applicable.
• Phase II managing and financing the broadband infrastructure PPP project to meet the State’s objectives.

The broadband infrastructure public-private partnership project should:

• Deliver, at a minimum, one carrier neutral landing station
• Encourage more transpacific submarine cable landings in Hawaii
• Leverage US$25 million reimbursable general obligation bond funding
• Have a revenue model that supports the reimbursable general obligation bond funding
• Provide the State additional broadband capacity
• Leverage the State’s resources (facilities, resources, policy making, etc)

The deadline for responses to this request for proposal (RFP) is May 18, 2016. While the state expects to award a three-year contract on June 20, 2016.