Skip to content

Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation Issues Open Call for Information on Future Pilots in Multi-Modal Autonomous Vehicle Industries

BNYDC invites market leaders to explore innovative AV technology solutions for efficient, sustainable transportation at the Brooklyn Navy Yard

BROOKLYN, N.Y., October 28, 2024 – The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) today issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Pilot at the Brooklyn Navy Yard that is focused on providing safe, sustainable and efficient mobility options within the Yard that could help address gaps in traditional service options. The full RFEI is available here.

BNYDC’s primary goals for this pilot include:

  • Gain a deeper understanding of the current AV market and its potential to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation options;
  • Explore the feasibility of integrating AV technology into the Yard’s existing shuttle system, which connects the campus to high-traffic MTA subway stations nearby but is not feasible to operate on off-peak hours or access areas with narrowly configured streets;
  • Gather insights from AV market leaders on how the technology can enhance transportation within and beyond the Yard, focusing on first- and last-mile connectivity during off-peak hours when traditional shuttle and public transit bus services are not as widely available.

The RFEI is the first step in a two-stage procurement process. After reviewing submissions, BNYDC may issue a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify qualified companies interested in testing and operating an AV pilot program at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Participation in this RFEI will give respondents the opportunity to inform and shape the subsequent RFP process, helping BNYDC tailor its plans for an AV pilot. While the pilot is expected to focus on learnings to inform ways to supplement existing BNYDC shuttle services, the RFEI is open to autonomous vehicles of types, not just passenger vehicles.

As a gated campus with over 550 businesses and 13,000 workers, including many hardware technology innovators, the Brooklyn Navy Yard offers a unique urban testing ground for AV technology. Many of the manufacturing companies based at the Navy Yard incorporate different levels of automation into their work while also maintaining a skilled middle-class workforce. BNYDC hopes to attract companies in the AV industry who are operating with similar principles, advancing their technologies in ways that support the creation and resilience of quality jobs. The Yard’s diverse transportation network, varied street conditions and robust community of hardware-tech-focused tenants make it an ideal environment for testing AV systems under real-world conditions. Prior AV pilots at the Yard were focused on advancing technologies to support shuttle service to support so-called transit deserts, where traditional transit options were not viable.

“Transportation is a critical link for businesses and employees at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and we are committed to exploring solutions that allow us to enhance mobility within the campus and beyond, while also supporting innovation in the industry that is consistent with our mission,” said Lindsay Greene, BNYDC President and CEO. “This RFEI provides an exciting opportunity for AV market leaders to test and refine their technologies in a dynamic, urban environment and help constructively advance the broader conversation around automation, jobs and safety.”

Interested respondents are invited to submit their RFEI proposals no later than 12 p.m. on Monday, December 23, 2024. Respondents are required to submit a statement of qualifications, cover letter, previous experience, project approach and signed acknowledgement of any addendum to this RFEI.

A pre-submission site visit can be scheduled by contacting Shani Leibowitz (sleibowitz@bnydc.org) or George Velez (gvelez@bnydc.org). BNYDC strongly encourages submissions from Minority and/or Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) and Locally Based Enterprises (LBEs).

For more information about the Brooklyn Navy Yard and to access the full RFEI, please visit BrooklynNavyYard.org.

# # #

About the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) is a not-for-profit corporation that serves as the real estate developer and property manager of the Yard on behalf of its owner, the City of New York. BNYDC’s mission is to fuel New York City’s economic vitality by creating and preserving quality jobs, growing the City’s modern industrial sector and its businesses, and connecting the local community with the economic opportunity and resources of the Yard. BNYDC’s vision is a vibrant and dense, modern manufacturing community where businesses are provided the stability needed to invest, grow, and thrive and where diverse candidates can attain quality jobs. brooklynnavyyard.org/