Empire State Development GO-SEMI Connectivity Portal Strategic Advisory and Owner's Representative Services RFP 2026
NY-State-Empire State DevelopmentState · Albany, NY- Due
- Sep 1, 2026
- Deadline passed
- Posted
- Jul 21, 2026
- Primary contact
- Jordan Kaplan
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THE 30-SECOND BRIEF
Empire State Development (ESD) is seeking a qualified strategic advisory firm to define the future-state vision for a Connectivity Portal and support ecosystem for Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), including MWBEs, SDVOBs, DBEs, and SEDIs. The selected consultant will act as a strategic and technical architect, responsible for evaluating business requirements, recommending an operating model, identifying technology strategies, and developing a phased implementation roadmap. The engagement is divided into three milestones: Discovery & Recommendations; Strategy, Roadmap & RFP Development; and Procurement Advisory & Oversight. The winning bidder will be disqualified from the subsequent software development contract to prevent conflicts of interest. Proposals are due by 2:00 PM ET on September 1, 2026, via a designated Dropbox folder. A 30% MWBE and 6% SDVOB participation goal is established for this procurement.
Technical blueprints, Operating models, Procurement-ready RFP, Implementation roadmap, Cost estimates
Firm Experience and Qualifications (25), Staff Experience and Qualifications (25), Project Plan / Approach (25), Cost of Services (20), Diversity Practices (5)
SUMMARY
Empire State Development (ESD) is seeking a qualified strategic advisory firm to define the future-state vision for a Connectivity Portal and support ecosystem for Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), including MWBEs, SDVOBs, DBEs, and SEDIs.
The selected consultant will act as a strategic and technical architect, responsible for evaluating business requirements, recommending an operating model, identifying technology strategies, and developing a phased implementation roadmap. The engagement is divided into three milestones: Discovery & Recommendations; Strategy, Roadmap & RFP Development; and Procurement Advisory & Oversight. The winning bidder will be disqualified from the subsequent software development contract to prevent conflicts of interest. Proposals are due by 2:00 PM ET on September 1, 2026, via a designated Dropbox folder. A 30% MWBE and 6% SDVOB participation goal is established for this procurement.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
REQUIRED DELIVERABLES
5- Technical blueprints
- Operating models
- Procurement-ready RFP
- Implementation roadmap
- Cost estimates
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
10- Non-Collusive Bidding Certification
- Conflict of Interest Attestation
- State Finance Law forms
- Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire
- Iran Divestment Act Statement
- Executive Order 16 Certification
- Executive Order 177 Certification
- MWBE and SDVOB Utilization Plan
- W-9 Form
- Diversity Practices Questionnaire
REQUIRED STAFFING
4- Submit to
- https://www.dropbox.com/request/ci8yjqat1vd3swnz40oo
- Scope location
- New York State
- Reported agency
- Empire State Development
Questions about this RFP
How do I respond to this RFP from NY-State-Empire State Development?
Review the full solicitation document for submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines. The submission deadline is September 1, 2026. The solicitation specifies required deliverables that must be addressed in your response. Be sure to include all required attachments as outlined in the solicitation. Submissions should be delivered to: https://www.dropbox.com/request/ci8yjqat1vd3swnz40oo. For questions, contact Jordan Kaplan.
Can small businesses or minority-owned firms bid on this RFP?
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 RFP 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 Jordan Kaplan. Questions and answers are typically shared with all prospective bidders.
What staffing is required for this project?
This solicitation outlines specific staffing requirements. The required roles include: Project Manager, Lead Enterprise Architect, Business Analyst, Procurement Advisor. Proposers should demonstrate relevant qualifications and experience for each required role.
What are the key deliverables?
The solicitation specifies the following deliverables: Technical blueprints, Operating models, Procurement-ready RFP, Implementation roadmap, Cost estimates. Proposals should clearly address how each deliverable will be met.
Can I search RFPs 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: "Firm Experience and Qualifications (25), Staff Experience and Qualifications (25), Project Plan / Approach (25), Cost of Services (20), Diversity Practices (5)" 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 documents are required to bid on this RFP?
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: Non-Collusive Bidding Certification, Conflict of Interest Attestation, State Finance Law forms, Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire, Iran Divestment Act Statement, Executive Order 16 Certification, Ex. Additionally, proposals should address staffing requirements as outlined in the solicitation. 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: New York State. Review the full solicitation for detailed scope requirements.