Empire State Development Cleantech Corporate Innovation Challenge RFA 2026
NY-State-Empire State DevelopmentState · Albany, NY- Due
- Jul 7, 2026
- Deadline passed
- Posted
- Apr 24, 2026
- Contract term
- 4 years
- Primary contact
- Toby Garcia
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THE 30-SECOND BRIEF
Empire State Development is requesting applications from qualified New York State-based not-for-profit organizations to administer a statewide Cleantech Corporate Innovation Challenge over a four-year grant term. The Challenge aims to accelerate the deployment and commercialization of cleantech innovations—including clean energy generation, energy storage and battery systems, energy efficiency, manufacturing, decarbonization, and circular economy technologies—by engaging corporate and public-sector partners to identify Industry Challenge Statements and providing non-dilutive, project-based funding to New York State small businesses. Applicants must submit proposals through the online Submittable web portal by 2:00 PM ET on July 7, 2026. Required submissions include an RFA Application and, if applicable, an Executed Coalition Agreement, along with mandatory forms such as Conflict of Interest attestation, State Finance Law 139-J and 139-K forms, Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire, Insurance Certificate, and W-9.
Industry Engagement and Pilot/Commercialization Execution, Challenge Design and Delivery, Project Budget and Sustainability Plan, Statewide Recruitment, Retention, and Ecosystem Activation, Impact Measurement and Reporting Strategy
SUMMARY
Empire State Development is requesting applications from qualified New York State-based not-for-profit organizations to administer a statewide Cleantech Corporate Innovation Challenge over a four-year grant term.
The Challenge aims to accelerate the deployment and commercialization of cleantech innovations—including clean energy generation, energy storage and battery systems, energy efficiency, manufacturing, decarbonization, and circular economy technologies—by engaging corporate and public-sector partners to identify Industry Challenge Statements and providing non-dilutive, project-based funding to New York State small businesses. Applicants must submit proposals through the online Submittable web portal by 2:00 PM ET on July 7, 2026. Required submissions include an RFA Application and, if applicable, an Executed Coalition Agreement, along with mandatory forms such as Conflict of Interest attestation, State Finance Law 139-J and 139-K forms, Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire, Insurance Certificate, and W-9.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
7- Industry Engagement and Pilot/Commercialization Execution
- Challenge Design and Delivery
- Project Budget and Sustainability Plan
- Statewide Recruitment
- Retention
- Ecosystem Activation
- Impact Measurement and Reporting Strategy
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
7- RFA Application
- Executed Coalition Agreement
- Conflict of Interest attestation
- State Finance Law 139-J and 139-K forms
- Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire
- Insurance Certificate
- W-9
- Submit to
- https://esd-nystar.submittable.com/submit
- Scope location
- Albany, NY
- Reported agency
- Empire State Development
Questions about this RFP
How do I respond to this RFEI from NY-State-Empire State Development?
Review the full solicitation document for submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines. The submission deadline is July 7, 2026. Be sure to include all required attachments as outlined in the solicitation. Submissions should be delivered to: https://esd-nystar.submittable.com/submit. For questions, contact Toby Garcia.
Can small businesses or minority-owned firms bid on this RFEI?
Most government agencies, including NY-State-Empire State Development in NY, encourage participation from small businesses, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MBE/WBE/DBE). Check the full solicitation for any small business participation goals.
What happens after the RFEI submission deadline?
After the deadline, the issuing agency reviews all submissions against the stated evaluation criteria. This typically includes a compliance check, technical evaluation, cost analysis, and may involve oral presentations with shortlisted vendors.
Can I ask questions about this solicitation before submitting?
Yes, most solicitations allow vendors to submit questions during a designated period. The primary contact is Toby Garcia. Questions and answers are typically shared with all prospective bidders.
Can I search RFEIs like this in ChatGPT or Claude?
Yes. Civic IQ has an MCP server that connects ChatGPT, Claude and other AI assistants to live Civic IQ data: open RFPs, pre-RFP signals from public meetings, awarded contracts and agency decision-makers across 100,000+ US public agencies. Add https://beta.mcp.civiciq.com/mcp as a connector (in ChatGPT under Settings > Apps & Connectors, in Claude under Settings > Connectors) and sign in with a free Civic IQ account at civiciq.com/mcp.
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What are the evaluation criteria for this solicitation?
This solicitation includes specific evaluation criteria that will be used to score proposals. The criteria include: "Industry Engagement and Pilot/Commercialization Execution, Challenge Design and Delivery, Project Budget and Sustainability Plan, Statewide Recruitment, Retention, and Ecosystem Activation, Impact Mea..." Vendors should carefully align their proposals with each criterion to maximize their score.
Where can I find more RFPs from NY-State-Empire State Development?
All active and historical solicitations from NY-State-Empire State Development are tracked and searchable. As a state agency, NY-State-Empire State Development regularly publishes solicitations. Visit the agency profile to see current open bids, past contracts, vendor relationships, and decision-maker contacts.
What is the contract term for this solicitation?
The anticipated contract term is 4 years. Contract terms may include renewal options.
What documents are required to bid on this RFEI?
Requirements vary by solicitation, but common documents include a technical proposal, cost/price proposal, proof of insurance, relevant certifications, past performance references, and any forms specified in the solicitation. This solicitation specifically requires the following attachments: RFA Application, Executed Coalition Agreement, Conflict of Interest attestation, State Finance Law 139-J and 139-K forms, Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire, Insurance Certificate, W-9. Review the full document from NY-State-Empire State Development for the complete list.
What is the scope of this project?
This solicitation defines a specific project scope. The scope covers the following locations: Albany, NY. Review the full solicitation for detailed scope requirements.