Manhattan Cruise Terminal Community Fund Administrator RFP

New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify qualified Fund Administrators to manage the Manhattan Cruise Terminal Community Fund (“MCTCF”) designed to support projects identified by community members and may include, but are not limited to, environmental stewardship, public realm improvements, and workforce development initiatives in the Hell’s Kitchen.

The selected Fund Administrator will be responsible for leading and managing transparent project solicitation and selection processes, overseeing Fund disbursement, implementing robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and memorializing funding priorities in collaboration with local stakeholders all through an inclusive community engagement process.

The MCTCF is financed through a $1 per passenger fee collected from cruise lines operating under exclusive berthing agreements. NYCEDC anticipates approximately $2 million in total funds for MCTCF by the end of calendar year 2026, with disbursement amounts expected to range between $700,000 annually. The administration fee for the selected organization will be sourced from a portion of the MCTCF Funds. No additional funding sources are available for this solicitation.

NYCEDC will accept proposals from a variety of institutions, including, but not limited to nonprofit organizations, community foundations, certified community development financial institutions (CDFIs), certified community development entities (CDEs), local business improvement districts (BIDs), and independent consultants with a demonstrated history of managing community funds and engaging local stakeholders.

NYCEDC plans to select one organization on the basis of factors stated in the RFP which include but are not limited to: the respondent’s cost proposal, experience and qualifications of the respondent, proposed outcomes, and overall proposal quality.

Optional Informational Session

An optional virtual informational session will be held on Tuesday, June 23rd at 10:00 A.M. Those who wish to attend should RSVP by using the RSVP web form available here on or before Monday, June 22nd, 2026.

Inquiries

Respondents may submit questions and/or request clarifications from NYCEDC no later than later than 5pm on Wednesday, August 12th, 2026. Questions regarding the subject matter of this RFP should be directed to the Q&A web form available here. Answers to all questions will be posted by August 18th, 2026. Questions regarding the subject matter of this RFP will not be accepted after 5pm on Wednesday, August 12th, 2026, however, technical questions pertaining to downloading and submitting proposals to this RFP may be directed to [email protected] on or before Thursday, September 3rd, 2026.

Submission Guidelines

Detailed submission guidelines and requirements are outlined in the RFP, available as of June 16, 2026.

Please submit your response via electronic upload by clicking here and uploading your proposal.

Responses are due no later than September 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM. Please submit all documents in a single .zip file labeled with your company name. The Chrome Browser is the preferred method for uploading.

M/WBE

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 Non-Construction. Contracts Addendum in Exhibit B of the RFP.

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, NYCEDC’s M/WBE program, and programs to assist M/WBE in navigating current and upcoming opportunities on NYCEDC projects, please visit https://sbsconnect.nyc.gov/certification-directory-search/ and edc.nyc/opportunity-mwdbe.