NYCEDC Launches RFP for Life Sciences Programming for Kips Bay Students

Advances Transformative SPARC Kips Bay Project, Strengthens Career Pipelines and Expands Access to Careers in Healthcare and Life Sciences for New York Students

RFP Seeks Respondents to Deliver Hands-On Science Educational Programming for NYC Public School Students in Kindergarten Through 8th Grade in Kips Bay

NEW YORK, NY-Today, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to deliver life sciences educational programming for public school students in kindergarten through 8th Grade in the Kips Bay neighborhood-it is anticipated that funding of up to $500,000 will be provided, in aggregate, over five years to support one or more operators selected through this RFP. Building on the transformative Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay project, programming will provide hands-on life and health sciences learning and career exposure to students in the Kips Bay community.

Announced in 2022, and approved by the City Council and the city's land use process, SPARC Kips Bay will be a first-of-its kind education, workforce, and industry hub in the heart of New York City-transforming the Hunter College Brookdale campus and over 2 million square feet into a state-of-the-art life sciences, healthcare and public health hub, bringing public realm improvements to the broader neighborhood. The project is expected to create 15,000 total jobs-including over 3,100 jobs in the life and health sciences-generate $42 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years and establish a pipeline from New York City's public schools and public universities to future-forward and family-supporting careers in the life sciences and health care sectors. NYCEDC began work on the future SPARC Kips Bay campus in early 2026 with site deconstruction on the current campus, advancing the transformational project that is expected to be completed in 2031.

"Every New York City student deserves a clear line of sight from their classroom to a good career, and this RFP builds exactly that for Kips Bay's public school students," said Mayor Mamdani. "Life sciences and health care are major sectors of our economy, and we want the young people growing up steps from SPARC Kips Bay to see those jobs as their jobs. This is what it looks like to build an economy that works for New Yorkers: investing in kids early, connecting them to quality jobs and employers to the people they need, and making sure the neighborhoods hosting this growth share directly in its benefits."

"NYCEDC is continuing to make strategic investments in New York City's life sciences ecosystem that unlock opportunity for all New Yorkers while building the workforce pipeline needed for long-term industry growth," said NYCEDC Interim President and CEO Jeanny Pak. "With work underway at SPARC Kips Bay, we're excited to partner with an organization that shares our vision of connecting local students to life sciences careers, strengthening a homegrown talent pipeline, and preparing the next generation to drive world-class STEM innovation."

The RFP is a product of recommendations put forth by NYCEDC and the Kips Bay Science District Education and Workforce Task Force's January 2025 report, "Empowering Kips Bay's Future Workforce: The Kips Bay Science District Education & Workforce Vision." The RFP, which was designed in partnership with then-Councilmember Keith Powers, specifically responds to the taskforce's first recommendation; "Scale and fund exposure-based learning opportunities for talent in the district." The selected respondent will implement an innovative education program, centered around skill building and career awareness - highlighting the area's dynamic STEM opportunities.

The primary purpose of the Life Science Education RFP is to source respondents who will provide hands-on life and health sciences learning and career exposure to young members of the community in Kips Bay.The ideal outcome from these programs is to increase awareness of career opportunities in life and health sciences and to encourage student commitment to pursuing life and health sciences careers through connections to additional programs including the LifeSci NYC's internship program. Respondents will be tasked with thinking boldly and creatively about developing an education program that highlights the intersection of different disciplines within STEM.

The RFP identifies a few implementation goals to develop new or scale existing education opportunities that provide experiences for K-8 NYC public school students in the Kips Bay area, specifically:

• Skills Building: Develop or scale science education programs that enhance career awareness and life and health sciences competencies.
• Career Awareness and Access: Connect students directly with employers to explore diverse career pathways in life and health sciences.
• Connection to Youth Employment Pathways or Programs: Connect students directly with city-based programs like Department of Youth and Community Development's (DYCD) Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) or NYCEDC's LifeSci NYC Internship Program.

Acting on the recommendations from the "Empowering Kips Bay's Future Workforce" report, NYCEDC will fund five years of programming that will connect area schools (PS40, PS116, PS281, PS59, PS347, MS255, and MS104) to compelling science content that will raise young students' awareness of jobs and careers in the fields of life and health sciences.

NYCEDC's primary role will be the delivery of operating capital to support the launch and operations of life sciences education programming. It is anticipated that funding of up to $500,000 will be provided, in aggregate, over five years to support one or more operators selected through this RFP. For more information on how to apply for the RFP, please visit edc.nyc/rfps. The deadline to submit an application is August 31st, 2026.

"This RFP is a critical investment in preparing young New Yorkers for careers in the life sciences, while making our City more resilient for the future," said NYC Office of Talent and Workforce Development Executive Director Doug Lipari. "By combining career awareness, hands-on training, and direct employer connections, we are strengthening career pathways for the next generation of life scientists and building a fairer, more inclusive economy."

"We're always excited to welcome impactful partnerships to our students that offer real exposure to career pathways where they can thrive," said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. "We're giving our students an early, tangible connection to life and health science opportunities right in their own neighborhood. I look forward to seeing their growth into the next generation of STEM talent and leadership in our city."

"Investing in the next generation of New Yorkers is the most important component of the SPARC Kips Bay project. By providing K-8 students with early, hands-on exposure to the life and health sciences, we are not just teaching science-we are opening doors for local residents and bringing world-class career opportunities directly into our neighborhood," said Assembly Member Keith Powers. "This initiative fulfills a key commitment we made to the community to ensure that this transformative project delivers long-term economic opportunity to the families who live here."

"I am a proud champion of the SPARC Kips Bay project and am pleased with this new chapter supporting hands-on life science programming for local K-8 students," said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. "SPARC Kips Bay will be transformative for New York by creating thousands of high-quality jobs through the state-of-the-art research and innovation hub right here in NY-12. The Life Science Education RFP will connect public school students of all ages to this remarkable project-bringing life science learning directly to students and supporting their future career potential in the growing STEM field. I look forward to the implementation of this RFP delivering on the criteria of the "Empowering Kips Bay's Future Workforce" report by building skills, spreading career awareness, and connecting young New Yorkers to life and health science employment pathways."

"As Chair of the Council's Economic Development Committee and the City Council Member for Kips Bay, I'm committed to ensuring out local community fully benefits from SPARC Kips Bay project," said Council Member Virginia Maloney. "This RFP will provide hands-on education to area students, so that they can be prepared to be our City's next generation of scientists, researchers, and healthcare professionals. Investing in our public school students today is how we make sure Kips Bay's economic transformation benefits the families who call this neighborhood home."

"Manhattan Community District 6 is home to one of the densest concentrations of hospitals and research institutions anywhere in the country. This Life Sciences Education RFP is an important step in bringing those resources closer to the children growing up next door to them. Manhattan Community Board 6 commends NYCEDC and former Council Member, now Assembly Member, Keith Powers for their work on this effort," said Community Board 6 Chair Sandy McKee.

"New York City Economic Development Corporation's investment in life science programming recognizes the importance of setting students on the path to academic and professional success," said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. "By expanding access to hands-on learning and career exploration, we are building a pipeline to a fast-growing industry that will benefit the local community. We thank EDC for its continued partnership and look forward to one day welcoming these future CUNY students to the new SPARC Kips Bay campus."

"Life sciences remains a key opportunity of growth for New York City's economy, and SPARC Kips Bay will be at the center of it," said Maria Gotsch, President & CEO of the Partnership Fund for New York City. "This RFP is the kind of investment that will benefit the city by supporting a diverse pipeline of talent that starts early and starts local, giving Kips Bay's own students hands-on exposure to the science happening in their own community."

"This initiative will provide Kips Bay students important and potentially life-changing opportunities to engage in hands-on STEM learning and career exploration, opening doors to future opportunities in healthcare and life sciences," said Lasker Foundation President Claire Pomeroy. "The investment by NYCEDC will help inspire the next generation of health leaders who will be key to advancing knowledge, accelerating economic development in the sector, and driving health justice in our City and beyond."

"As someone who benefited from STEM education in the New York City public school system, I know firsthand how transformative early exposure to science can be. It was an invaluable part of my journey to becoming a scientist, entrepreneur, and innovation ecosystem leader," said Director MSK Applied Innovation Studios & MSK Entrepreneur Initiative Glennis Mehra. "Investing in STEM education today is an investment in the next generation of innovators whose discoveries and companies will shape the future of health, technology, and NYC's economy."

"Investing in life science education at an early age is essential to building a strong, diverse, and future-ready workforce in New York," said Jennifer Hawks Bland, CEO of NewYorkBIO, the leading advocate for New York's life science community. "By introducing students to hands-on learning experiences early, we enable young learners to see themselves as future innovators, researchers, and healthcare leaders, and engage with science in ways that are accessible, inspiring, and relevant. At NewYorkBIO, we are committed to supporting initiatives that expand opportunities and ensure the next generation of New Yorkers is equipped to lead across life science and healthcare roles, and ultimately improve health outcomes for patients across the globe for generations to come."

NYCEDC is committed to strengthening talent pipelines and training the largest, most diverse, workforce by supporting several initiatives including the Life Sciences NYC Internship program, which has supported over 1,350 students since its launch, along with Break into Biotech, which provides hands-on training, networking, mentorship, and career development opportunities necessary to break into the City's biotechnology sector.

This announcement is also a reflection of the City's commitment to deepening its partnerships with academia to strengthen the city's talent pipeline, research capacity, innovation, and growth. Some key targeted investments in facilities, research centers, and career pipelines, include Cornell Tech, BioHub, Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay, BATWorks, Gotham Foundry, Fordham's Bronx Green Jobs Center, Greenlight Innovation Fund and Mount Sinai's Surgical Innovation Center. The city's academic institutions generate $35 billion in annual economic impact and serve as a cornerstone of innovation, talent development, and economic mobility-helping attract and retain young talent and translate research into new businesses and solutions.

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

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