Notice Details

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) invites entities— including but not limited to academic institutions, philanthropic organizations, private businesses, non-profit entities, or partnerships thereof—to respond to the Offshore Wind (OSW) Innovation and R&D Request for Information (“RFI”). This RFI seeks information regarding potential capital projects that could potentially be supported by City capital resources to enable OSW innovation that advances the following objectives: 

• Objective 1: Bolster New York City’s status as a hub for OSW and the related economic benefits
• Objective 2: Leverage a growing OSW ecosystem and public-private partnership to strengthen the city's position as innovators in cross- sectoral, enabling technologies
• Objective 3: Generate shared equity for a broad base of New Yorkers, including residents of low-income communities based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey data (“Environmental Justice Areas”)

Examples of desired innovation include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Design (e.g., improving design of turbines, substations, etc.)
• Materials & Construction (e.g., improving raw material usage and component manufacturing)
• Systems & Planning (e.g., improving grid integration / resilience and supply chain logistics)

The emerging domestic offshore wind industry presents a significant opportunity to advance the nation’s clean energy goals. The federal government established a target of deploying 30 gigawatts (GW) of OSW in the U.S. by 2030. Locally, New York State set a goal of 9 GW of OSW by 2035. To achieve federal and New York State OSW goals, public and private actors are working to identify new technologies and strategies that increase efficiencies across multiple phases of an OSW farm lifecycle.

The City is committed to accelerating innovation that solves industry challenges and creates economic opportunities for New Yorkers through the development of technologies, businesses, and new approaches to R&D and commercialization.

This RFI should be viewed as a pre-competitive stage of solicitation of ideas and will be judged on the basis of factors stated in the RFI, which include but are not limited to:

1. Project Overview

• What OSW innovation need(s) could be addressed to support industry growth?
• What is the recommended Project that could address the specific innovation need(s)?
• What specific activities and/or operations would be conducted through the Project?

2. Equity Considerations

• How would the Project advance at least one of the below influence goals?
  • Project at least partly owned by residents of Environmental Justice Areas
  • Project’s decision-making authority at least partly held by residents of Environmental Justice Areas
• How would the Project advance at least one of the below wealth goals?
  • New jobs created for residents of Environmental Justice Areas o New investments directed toward Environmental Justice Areas
  • New investments direct toward local, publicly funded academic institutions
  • New IP / equity at least partly owned by the City and/or residents of Environmental Justice Areas
  • Projects with M/WBEs as subcontractors

3. Funding Needs

• What are the total estimated capital funding needs for the Project?

It is the policy of NYCEDC to comply with all federal, state and City laws and regulations which prohibit unlawful discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status and other protected category and to take affirmative action in working with contracting parties to ensure certified Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) share in the economic opportunities generated by NYCEDC’s projects and initiatives.

Companies who have been certified with the New York City Department of Small Business Services as Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (“M/WBE”) are strongly encouraged to apply. To learn more about M/WBE certification and NYCEDC’s M/WBE program, please visit https://sbsconnect.nyc.gov/certification-directory-search/.

Detailed submission guidelines and requirements are outlined in the RFI available as of Friday, June 24th, 2022. To download a copy of the solicitation documents please visit https://edc.nyc/rfps. RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 11:59PM EST on SEPTEMBER 9, 2022. Please click the link in the “Deadlines” section of this project’s web page (which can be found on https://edc.nyc/rfps) to electronically upload a proposal for this solicitation.