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A nearly 2-acre site in the South Boston marine park is set to be offered for redevelopment as potential life science space in one of the industry’s most active frontiers.

The Economic Development and Industrial Corp. of Boston is preparing to request proposals for 20 and 22 Drydock Ave. The parcels include a pair of World War II-era brick buildings which are occupied by private and municipal tenants, including the Boston Planning & Development Agency’s real estate department.

Officials anticipate that the selected developer will opt to demolish the existing structures, and take advantage of proposed new zoning that could allow life science labs to be built on upper floors of buildings in the marine park.

“Anticipation of this approval is fueling increased demand for property in the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park as South Boston continues to emerge as a secondary life sciences cluster as an alternative to Kendall Square in Cambridge,” a BPDA memo states.

BPDA directors are scheduled to issue the RFP at their monthly meeting on Thursday.

Developers also will be required to comply with new diversity and inclusion guidelines for disposition of public properties, which weights that element as 25 percent of the overall evaluation.

The property is steps from Related Beal’s Innovation Square Seaport life science campus, where Vertex Pharmaceuticals leased 268,000 square feet last year for its new cell and genetic therapies center.

Redevelopment potential for the aging industrial properties in the marine park is prompting a series of proposed projects.

The Davis Cos. of Boston last week filed plans for a four-story vertical addition to the 88 Black Falcon property, which would add 327,600 square feet of office and lab space.

And Boston-based Marcus Partners acquired the Au Bon Pain headquarters and bakery last year and is proposing a new office and lab complex.