# Hawaiʻi Awards $1 Million Pest Assessment Contract

Hawaiʻi’s Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity awarded Shizen Consulting Management a **$1 million contract in June 2026** for a one-year project to produce up to eight invasive-pest risk assessments and develop a methodology for future state assessments. The article raises concerns about the solicitation’s measurable requirements, the awardee’s qualifications and relationships, and transparency around contract results. The award is already made, so it is not an immediate bidding opportunity; the work may inform future state biosecurity planning and procurement.

- Contractors offering pest-risk analysis or biosecurity expertise can assess whether their capabilities align with the methodology and deliverables described in this award, which may shape future state assessment work.
- Procurement teams can use the concerns raised about measurable requirements and public reporting as a reminder to define assessable deliverables and document how contract results will be shared.
- The signals also report **$678,000 in 2025 biosecurity-related contracts** involving EKNA Services, including assessment and facility work, indicating a broader state procurement history in this area.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Environment
**Published:** October 28, 2026

### Government Entities
- Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity
- State Plant Quarantine Branch

### Vendors
- Shizen Consulting Management (awardee)
- EKNA Services (formerly Edward K. Noda and Associates) (awardee)

### Key Quotes
> There’s a million things that they could be doing.
> — Mark Burgman, Director of the University of Hawaiʻi School of Life Sciences

> When reports aren’t released, or we don’t get to understand how contracts turn out, we can’t improve and learn from them.
> — Christy Martin, Coordination Group on Invasive Pest Species

### Sources
- [Mission Unclear: A $1 Million Contract In Hawaii Involving Invasive Species - LA NACION](https://www.lanacion.com.ar/usa/mission-unclear-a-1-million-contract-in-hawaii-involving-invasive-species-nid28102026) - La Nación