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BDTA
The Business Development Training Academy (BDTA) AEC Concourse 100 is an eight-week course that will provide your business with a high-level overview of numerous important topics related to doing work at Denver International Airport (DEN), either as a prime or subcontractor. This course is ideal for businesses that have limited to no knowledge or experience at DEN and would like to learn the key knowledge and skills needed to bid and win contracts at DEN.
| Week Number | Class Title | Class Overview |
|---|---|---|
| Concourse 100 Classes will take place on Tuesdays. | ||
| Week 1 | Orientation | To introduce participants to Denver International Airport’s Business Development Training Academy (BDTA), providing a foundational understanding of its goals, structure and strategic initiatives. This orientation aims to equip small business professionals with the knowledge and connections needed to successfully engage in opportunities at DEN through the AEC Concourse 100 program. |
| Week 2 | Navigating DEN | To provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of Denver International Airport’s operations, organizational structure and business engagement opportunities. This session equips attendees with the tools, contacts and procedures necessary to successfully navigate and collaborate within the DEN ecosystem. |
| Week 3 | Prime Connections 101 | This class equips small businesses with the knowledge and tools to connect effectively with prime contractors and clients at Denver International Airport. Participants learn strategies for market identification, relationship-building and strategic outreach to position themselves for long-term success in aviation and infrastructure contracting. |
| Week 4 | Intro to DEN Contract Documents & Contract Templates | This class introduces participants to the essential contract documentation, change management processes and closeout procedures required for successful project execution at Denver International Airport. Attendees will gain practical insights into workflows, compliance expectations and strategies for navigating DEN’s contracting environment. |
| Week 5 | Safety & Risk Management | This class provides participants with essential knowledge of bonding, insurance and safety requirements specific to working at Denver International Airport. Participants will gain practical insights into underwriting expectations, risk management protocols and compliance with DEN’s ROCIP and regulatory standards. |
| Week 6 | Interviews and Panel Discussion | This panel highlights the journeys of small businesses that have successfully grown into prime contractors at Denver International Airport, offering insights into their challenges, strategies and milestones. Participants will gain inspiration and practical guidance on navigating the path to becoming a prime through real-world experiences and lessons learned. |
| Week 7 | Procurement Process at DEN | This class provides a comprehensive overview of Denver International Airport’s procurement lifecycle, from long-range planning to contract execution, with a focus on navigating solicitation types, compliance requirements and business engagement strategies. Participants will gain practical insights into how to prepare competitive proposals, understand DSBO expectations and position their firms for success in DEN contracting opportunities. |
| Week 8 | Navigating Finance | This class equips participants with a foundational understanding of commercial loan types and the key factors lenders consider during qualification. Attendees will explore the 5 C’s of credit and learn how to present a strong financial profile to confidently pursue funding opportunities. |
The Business Development Training Academy (BDTA) AEC Concourse 200 is a highly interactive, eight-week course that takes an in-depth look at many critical concepts related to doing work at Denver International Airport (DEN), as either a prime or subcontractor, and increases your knowledge of the contract life cycle from advertisement to closeout. Each week, students will work in teams to apply the information they have learned to create artifacts and documents that will be a part of the capstone group presentation. Industry experts, key DEN staff, and prime contractors will teach classes. This course will prepare you to submit proposals and win contracts at DEN, but it will take a high level of commitment and require time outside of the scheduled class time to complete.
| Week Number | Class Title | Class Overview |
|---|---|---|
| Concourse 200 Classes will take place on Tuesdays. | ||
| Week 1 | Orientation | This orientation introduces participants to the structure, goals, and expectations of the BDTA Concourse 200 program, designed to advance small businesses in contract proposal, execution, and management at Denver International Airport. Through hands-on learning, team collaboration, and a capstone presentation, participants will build the skills and relationships needed to succeed in DEN’s contracting environment. |
| Week 2 | RFP Part 1 | This class introduces participants to the foundational steps of navigating and responding to a Request for Proposal (RFP) at Denver International Airport. Attendees will learn how to assess RFPs, make Go/No Go decisions, and begin crafting strategic responses including project management approaches, staffing plans, and MWBE/DBE/SBE goal alignment. |
| Week 3 | RFP Part 2 | This class guides participants through the second phase of the RFP process at Denver International Airport, focusing on panel selection, evaluation procedures, and contract execution. Attendees will also learn how to complete DSBO-required forms and develop a compliant MWBE Utilization Plan to strengthen their proposals. |
| Week 4 | Execution of a Contract | This class provides participants with a high-level understanding of the contract execution process at Denver International Airport, including key milestones such as Notice to Proceed, pre-construction meetings, and task order proposals. Attendees will also explore the role of the Design Review Committee and learn how to navigate its requirements to ensure design compliance and project success. |
| Week 5 | Contract Management Part 1 | This class introduces participants to key elements of contract management at Denver International Airport, with a focus on prevailing wage compliance, certified payroll reporting, and DSBO contract requirements. Attendees will gain practical insights into labor standards, subcontractor documentation, and strategies for maintaining compliance throughout the project lifecycle. |
| Week 6 | Contract Management Part 2 | This class provides an in-depth overview of Denver International Airport’s contract management systems, including Unifier and Textura, with a focus on payment processes, change orders, and project scheduling. Participants will learn how to navigate task order workflows, submit proposals, and maintain compliance throughout the project lifecycle. |
| Week 7 | Closeout | This class provides a comprehensive overview of the project closeout process at Denver International Airport, including key milestones, stakeholder roles, and required documentation for both professional services and construction task orders. Participants will learn how to navigate closeout workflows, avoid common delays, and ensure compliance with DEN standards to complete their projects successfully. |
| Capstone Prep | Optional Opportunity | Enhance your confidence and communication! Join our Public Speaking Workshop to sharpen your presentation skills and deliver a powerful end-of-program project. |
| Public Speaking Workshop | ||
| Week 8 | Capstone | This class challenges participants to collaborate in teams to develop and present a mock RFP response to a panel of airport experts and prime contractors. Through this exercise, students will refine their proposal development, presentation skills, and understanding of DEN’s procurement expectations in a simulated interview environment. |
The Business Development Training Academy (BDTA) AEC Concourse 300 (Pilot) is a six-month advanced course that blends leadership capacity-building and business development through experiential learning and the applied practice of contracting principles. The program helps small AEC businesses strengthen their positioning, readiness, and competitiveness at DEN and beyond, building on the foundational knowledge gained in Concourse 100 and 200.
Participants engage in a blend of leadership modules, experiential learning and group coaching forums with DEN Prime Partners, focusing on advanced concepts in project management, stakeholder engagement and strategic growth within the AEC industry. Each month follows a weekly learning cadence that guides participants through a progressive leadership and project-delivery journey—from building self-awareness and influence to managing stakeholders, executing projects effectively and sustaining long-term business growth.
Throughout the six-month program, each business refines and enhances its organizational portfolio—the central project of Concourse 300—preparing them to participate in the Portfolio Showcase. During this culminating event, participants present their refined portfolios to government agencies and industry partners who provide insight, offer constructive feedback and share best practices to strengthen their positioning for future work. These connections expand each firm’s professional network, foster collaboration and build confidence to pursue new opportunities within and beyond DEN.
| Schedule | Class Tile | Class Overview |
|---|---|---|
| Concourse 300 classes will take place on Wednesdays. | ||
| Month 1 | ||
| Week 1 | Orientation | To inform the students of the upcoming courses, trainers, key dates, and an introduction to learn to distinguish leadership from management while building your Value Proposition to strengthen your impact with teams and clients. leadership. Leading with Value – Connecting Leadership style & Value Proposition. |
| Week 2 | Designing SMARTIE Goals | Set new SMARTIE goals for the next six months and connect them to real contract opportunities to prepare your business for success |
| Week 3 | Independent Work | The independent study allows each student to focus individually on completing the portfolio requirements provided by the DEN BDTA Team. |
| Week 4 | Learning Circles (V) | Dedicated time for students to share knowledge and learn from one another’s experiences. |
| Month 2 | ||
| Week 1 | Prequalification Process | Learn how to navigate the DEN and Prime prequalification process, including its purpose and requirements. |
| Week 2 | Shaping Relationships – Influence, Trust, and Client Alignment | Define your Ideal Client Profile, align services to client needs, and build an Influence & Trust Strategy that strengthens relationships with clients, Primes, and teams. |
| Week 3 | Independent Work | The independent study allows each student to focus individually on completing the portfolio requirements provided by the DEN BDTA Team. |
| Week 4 | Learning Circles & Social Hour | Dedicated time for participants to connect, exchange insights, and learn from one another’s experiences—followed by a networking Social Hour with Primes and government agency partners. |
| Month 3 | ||
| Week 1 | Effective Leadership Communication | Strengthen your leadership communication by mapping stakeholders, building trust, and creating clear, multi-audience communication plans while practicing effective feedback skills. |
| Week 2 | Prime Circles: Contract Award Process | Gain practical guidance on navigating the Contract Award process, including project start-up steps and understanding billing types using Exhibit B and PS-F. |
| Week 3 | Independent Work | The independent study allows each student to focus individually on completing the portfolio requirements provided by the DEN BDTA Team. |
| Week 4 | Learning Circles | Dedicated time for students to share knowledge and learn from one another’s experiences. |
| Month 4 | ||
| Week 1 | Leadership Change Management | Build change management skills by applying strategies and process mapping to lead teams, reduce waste, and improve project success. |
| Week 2 | Prime Circles: Implementing Contract Process | Explore the project implementation process with a focus on airport and external stakeholder coordination, safety, and managing change effectively. |
| Week 3 | Independent Work | The independent study allows each student to focus individually on completing the portfolio requirements provided by the DEN BDTA Team. |
| Week 4 | Learning Circles | Dedicated time for students to share knowledge and learn from one another’s experiences. |
| Month 5 | ||
| Week 1 | Keeping the Cash Flowing- Financial Continuity in Contracting | Strengthen financial planning across the contract lifecycle with strategies for loans, financing, cash flow, and continuity planning to ensure long-term business stability. |
| Week 2 | Prime Circles: Closeout Process | Gain practical guidance on the contract closeout process, including construction administration, task order completion, and capturing lessons learned. |
| Week 3 | Independent Work | The independent study allows each student to focus individually on completing the portfolio requirements provided by the DEN BDTA Team. |
| Week 4 | Learning Circles | Dedicated time for students to share knowledge and learn from one another’s experiences. |
| Month 6 | ||
| Required Opportunity Public Speaking Workshop | Public Speaking Workshop | Enhance your confidence and communication! Join our Public Speaking Workshop to sharpen your presentation skills and deliver a powerful end-of-program project. |
| Optional Opportunity | Pitch & Polish Day | Use this dedicated session to refine your business portfolio and prepare for the upcoming Portfolio Showcase. Participants will have the chance to rehearse presentations, exchange feedback, and strengthen their confidence before the final event. |
| End of Program Event | Portfolio Showcase | Step into the spotlight! The Portfolio Showcase gives small businesses the platform to present their portfolios to government agencies, primes, and industry leaders—demonstrating their readiness to do business with DEN and beyond. It’s where preparation meets opportunity, and lasting partnerships begin. |
