The University of Hawaii did not select an executive search firm Tuesday as planned to help with recruiting presidential candidates but said it will ask three finalist firms to make in-person presentations over the next two weeks.

The Board of Regents’ presidential search committee had sent bid invitations to about 40 search firms earlier this month. Bids were due back Oct. 18 and the committee was expected to make a selection at its meeting today.

But the committee "concluded that further discussion was required with the finalists we identified, and that discussion should occur in person," Regent Carl Carlson, the committee’s chairman, said in a statement. "We’ve asked the firms to show their commitment to the process and belief in their own excellence by coming to present to us at their own expense here in Hawaii. We will make a final decision as soon as possible after these presentations have taken place."

UH said the names of the three finalist firms will not be made public "so as to maintain confidentiality and to protect the proprietary nature of the firms’ strategies, concepts, database strength and expertise."

The winning bidder and contract price will be disclosed when an agreement is reached. UH has said it expects to spend an estimated $75,000 to $125,000 on a search firm, according to procurement documents.

The regents in July named its chief information officer, David Lassner, interim president of the 10-campus system. He took the reins from M.R.C. Greenwood, who announced in May that she would retire at the end of August to spend more time with family and deal with health problems.