The Department of State is soliciting applications through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) from eligible municipalities, community-based not-for-profit organizations, and NYC Community Boards for funding to the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program. Funds are available for projects that establish or implement strategies for community redevelopment of areas affected by known or suspected brownfields. Multiple BOA program applications are permitted, but each application must be for only one of the following grant activities:
County-wide Pre-Planning: Brownfield identification, underutilized site inventory and preliminary analysis of land use of one or more areas within a county or large geographical area to determine the presence of potential brownfield, vacant, and abandoned sites and assess localized concentrations of known or suspected brownfields and other underutilized lands that may be candidates for future in-depth BOA planning and predevelopment activities. Pre-Planning will not culminate in a BOA Designation.
Planning: Development or update of Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Plan, which is a strategic plan for an area affected by known or suspected brownfields that will culminate in a request for State BOA Designation.
Predevelopment Activities: Activities to complete analyses, plans and studies or professional services to advance redevelopment within a State-Designated BOA.
Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (SA) Site environmental investigation activities including sampling and chemical testing within a State-Designated BOA, which will be detailed in a Phase II ESA report
Brownfield sites are real properties where a contaminant is present at levels exceeding the soil cleanup objectives or where levels exceed other health-based or environmental standards, criteria, or guidance adopted by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation that are applicable based on the reasonably anticipated use of the property, in accordance with applicable regulations. Known or suspected site contamination of real property can impede investment and redevelopment, making such property an economic and environmental drain on localities. Through the New York State Department of State Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Program, these known and suspected brownfields are transformed from liabilities to community assets that generate businesses, jobs and revenues for local economies and provide new housing and public amenities.
The BOA program applies a Smart Growth approach to brownfield assessment and redevelopment, using neighborhood-wide planning and conservation strategies, rather than the traditional site-by-site assessment and redevelopment of known or suspected brownfields and other vacant or abandoned properties. The neighborhood approach enables communities to comprehensively assess existing economic and environmental conditions associated with brownfield-related blight and impacted areas; identify and prioritize community supported redevelopment opportunities; and attract public and private investment. The types of areas where program resources are being applied include industrial/manufacturing zones, commercial corridors, mixed-use neighborhoods, downtowns and waterfronts.
Through the BOA Program, communities are empowered to:
Address a range of problems posed by multiple known or suspected brownfield sites.
Build community consensus on the future uses for the area with an emphasis on strategic sites that are known or suspected brownfields.
Establish sustainable goals and objectives for area-wide revitalization and for redevelopment of strategic sites.
Implement existing and future Smart Growth plans through the identification and reuse of underutilized and potential brownfield properties.
Strengthen and direct development towards existing neighborhoods and preserve open space.
Make re-development decisions that are equitable, fair, and will create an environment that adapts to ecological disturbances.
Identify and establish the multi-agency and private-sector partnerships necessary to leverage assistance and investments to revitalize downtowns, neighborhoods, and communities.
Reduce carbon emissions and increase climate resiliency in the built environment.
Address environmental justice concerns and promote environmental equity in areas that may be burdened by negative environmental consequences; and
Engage in activities to implement the community’s vision after BOA designation by Department of State.
In many ways, the BOA program supports what are known as the “4 Es” of Smart Growth—Economy, Environment, Equity and Energy. Brownfield redevelopment, for instance, inherently achieves a central principle of Smart Growth—the redevelopment of previously developed areas within, or next to, existing neighborhoods, thus offering a more sustainable and equitable alternative to sprawling development on undeveloped suburban and rural greenfields. Indeed, many BOA plans and projects support, and have been supported by, downtown neighborhoods served by the DOS Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Since most BOAs are located within environmental justice and traditionally disadvantaged communities, the program also advances socio-economic equity. BOA achieves the goals of the State’s Climate Act in several ways—creating compact, walkable, mixed-use communities that reduce automobile dependence and thus reduce transportation-based greenhouse gas emissions; producing green buildings as an antidote to the previous contamination; and developing alternative energy.
It is expected that BOA Plans developed locally through this program will then be submitted to the Secretary of State in support of a request for BOA designation. BOA designation conveys certain benefits to an area that promotes redevelopment consistent with the vision, goals and objectives outlined and reported in the BOA Plan. Applications for predevelopment activities and environmental site assessments are expected to implement the vision, goals, and objectives of the State-Designated BOA.
The BOA Program is a reimbursement program. State assistance awarded and paid through the BOA Program shall not exceed 90% of the total eligible project costs set forth in the application and approved by the Department. Upon execution of a state assistance contract, BOA Program grantees may request an advance payment of up to 25% of the total grant. Such advance payment requests are subject to the Department’s approval and the availability of funds.
This Request for Applications is available at https://dos.ny.gov/funding-bid-opportunities. All applicants are encouraged to read the RFA in its entirety as grant programs and requirements change from year to year. Any updates and/or modifications to this RFA will also be posted on this webpage.
Written questions will be accepted until June 17, 2024. Questions should be submitted by email to
contact@example.gov or in writing to: NYS Department of State Office of Planning, Development and Community Infrastructure, attn: BOA RFA Questions, 99 Washington Ave, Suite 1010, Albany NY 12231.
When submitting questions by email, clearly indicate the subject as: “24 BOA-4 RFA Questions”. To the degree possible, each inquiry should site the RFA section and paragraph to which it refers. Responses to questions received by June 17, 2024 will be posted by July 9, 2024 on the Department’s website at: https://dos.ny.gov/funding-bid-opportunities.
No responses will be provided to inquiries made by telephone, social media, or contacting DOS staff directly via email or telephone.
It is recommended that all applicants review the final responses. The responses to questions received during this time period will be official responses by the Department and will be incorporated into this Request for Applications.
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Set Aside: No
Total MWBE Participation Goals: 30% Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Contracting Goal: 6%
Due date:07/31/2024 4:00 PM
Live Webinar May 22, 2024. Questions due June 17, 2024. Contract term: 5 Years
County(ies): All NYS counties
Business entities awarded an identical or substantially similar procurement contract within the past five years: See attached prior awards document
