Asset Valuation and Sponsorship Consultant, RFP

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC), a subsidiary of Empire State Development, is requesting proposals for sponsorship consulting services to develop and secure long-term Naming Right Agreements for three state-owned facilities — Terminal B (100,000 square feet, 6,000-guest capacity event venue in Buffalo Outer Harbor), the proposed Cruise Terminal at Buffalo Outer Harbor (under construction, anticipated full operation 2028), and Niagara Falls Convention Center (116,000 square feet) — with proposals due August 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET.

The consultant will provide sponsorship asset valuation, develop valuation methodologies, analyze audience and media impressions, conduct outreach, and lead negotiations for naming rights agreements with minimum ten-year terms. Respondents must demonstrate at least five years of experience in asset valuation and sponsorship outreach with state and local municipalities and provide hourly rates and estimated hours for project completion. The RFP explicitly prohibits sponsorships from businesses associated with tobacco, vapes, cannabis, and alcoholic products.

Proposals are evaluated on firm experience and qualifications (25 points), staff experience and qualifications (20 points), development plan and approach (25 points), estimated cost (25 points), and diversity practices (5 points). Respondents are encouraged to utilize New York State certified minority and women-owned businesses (MWBEs) and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOBs); a mandatory Diversity Practices Questionnaire must be completed, notarized, and submitted as part of the proposal. All contractors must comply with ISO Standards 27001, 27005, and 27035 for information security and demonstrate compliance within 30 days of contract signing; comparable security standards may be approved by ESD's Chief Information Security Officer. The selected respondent must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million in the aggregate, with ESD named as additional insured. Questions are due July 27, 2026, with ESD responses due by August 3, 2026. Award is anticipated on or about September 14, 2026, with contract start approximately October 12, 2026.