Notice Details

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) invites users and developers of Blue Highway, maritime industrial, and/or maritime commercial facilities to submit proposals for the development of a waterfront facility at the 23rd Street Basin, Gowanus site. NYCEDC welcomes all types of viable development proposals on the site that leverage the property’s unique waterfront industrial location and support the goals for waterfront industrial and commercial development as per the stipulations of Significant Maritime and Industrial Areas (SMIA) and Industrial Business Zones (IBZ) and the strategic vision set forth in the Blue Highways Action Plan and Brooklyn Marine Terminal Vision Plan.

New York City’s waterfront and extensive waterways, key to the City’s growth since its founding, continues to present a major economic development opportunity in the 21st Century. While distribution and logistics have largely transitioned to a reliance on trucks, key goods such as fuel, waste, lumber, aggregate materials, structural steel, and oversized project cargo continue to be profitably transported by water. Multiple businesses in these industries are located within the immediate vicinity of the 23rd Street Basin site.

More recently, New York City has expanded its commitment to waterfront and maritime commerce through its Blue Highways initiative and detailed the roadmap for strategic support for the industry in the Blue Highways Action Plan. Supporting Blue Highways is a critical way to improve the quality of life for New Yorker’s, enabling businesses and individuals to receive the goods they rely on without creating more congestion on City streets. Additionally, investment in the Blue Highway and support for maritime industrial uses on City-owned property is essential for industrial and specifically maritime jobs in New York City, sectors that drive New York City’s economy and pay living wages.

At the 23rd Street Basin site, NYCEDC seeks a development partner to activate this vacant property, consisting of approximately 21,000 square feet of upland space, approximately 765,000 square feet of lands underwater, and approximately 350 linear feet of usable bulkhead. NYCEDC is open to proposals for all types of maritime industrial uses, including bulk product movement, heavy or light-duty vehicle roll-on roll-off operations, vessel berthing and homeport facility development, or landing development for passenger or freight ferries. Additionally, NYCEDC welcomes development proposals that seek to leverage the upland space pursuant to existing zoning stipulations and other use overlay restrictions such as SMIA and IBZ requirements.

NYCEDC is actively engaged in a project to repair the bulkhead, which is presently deteriorated, and prepare the site for activation or further development by respondents thereafter. NYCEDC’s program to restore the site has reached the 30% design stage as of 12/5/2025, and will reach 100% design by Q2/Q3 2026. Construction timeline will be determined by receipt of applicable approvals and permits, as well as in-water construction moratoria. It is expected that construction will be completed on-site in Q1 2027.

NYCEDC plans to select a proposal on the basis of factors stated in the RFP which include, but are not limited to: the general quality of the proposal, experience of key staff identified in the proposal, financial and schedule feasibility, demonstrated successful experience in performing services or completing developments similar to those encompassed in the RFP, economic impact, hiring and workforce programs, and the proposed fee.

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. Please refer to the Equal Employment and Affirmative Compliance for Construction Contracts Addendum in the RFP.
This project has Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise (“M/WBE”) participation goals, and all respondents will be required to submit an M/WBE Participation Proposal with their response. To learn more about NYCEDC’s M/WBE program, visit http://edc.nyc/opportunity-mwdbe. For the list of companies who have been certified with the New York City Department of Small Business Services as M/WBE, please go to the https://sbsconnect.nyc.gov/certification-directory-search/.

NYCEDC established the Contract Financing Loan Fund programs for Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (M/W/DBE) interested in working on public construction projects. Contract Financing Loan Fund facilitates financing for short-term mobilization needs such as insurance, labor, supplies and equipment. Bidders/subcontractors are strongly encouraged to visit the NYCEDC website at http://edc.nyc/opportunity-mwdbe to learn more about the program.

An optional site visit session will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 10:00AM at 101-31 23rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11232. Those who wish to attend should RSVP by email to 23rdStreetBasin_RFP@edc.nyc on or before Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

Respondents may submit questions and/or request clarifications from NYCEDC by Friday, April 24th, 2026. Questions regarding the subject matter of this RFP should be directed to 23rdStreetBasin_RFP@edc.nyc. Answers to all questions will be posted by Friday, May 8, 2026, to https://edc.nyc/rfps. Questions regarding the subject matter of this RFP will not be accepted after 5pm on Friday, April 24th, 2026, however, technical questions pertaining to downloading and submitting proposals to this RFP may be directed to 23rdStreetBasin_RFP@edc.nyc on or before July
1, 2026 at 4:00PM.

Detailed submission guidelines and requirements are outlined in the RFP, available as of Wednesday, December 31st, 2025 . To download a copy of the solicitation documents please visit https://edc.nyc/rfps. RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN July 1st, 2026 at 4:00PM. 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. Please upload your proposal as a single .zip file, labeled with your company name and the title of this RFP.