Denver Airport includes passenger EDI as one of its Vision 100 initiatives

Credit: Denver International Airport (DEN)

At Denver International Airport (DEN), one of the four guiding principles of Vision 100 (DEN’s strategic plan to get to 100 million passengers in 10 years) and a consistent part of its operation, is Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). 

DEN is announcing that it has established a ‘best value’ in competitive procurements built on a foundation of honest and ethical decision making with a sincere focus on improving opportunities that promote economic equity, by engaging a more diverse and inclusive community of vendors and contractors.

Some of the equity enhancements to the procurement process include:

• Added language to competitive solicitations (RFPs, RFQs, RFIs) that includes detailed information about DEN’s EDI requirements
• An Equity Plan submission as part of proposals, which will be scored and factored into each proposal’s final score
• New components of training for the evaluation panel participants to equip them to look for EDI sociocultural merits as they consider contracts
• Enhanced communications to and about potential contract partners including formal contract documents, public announcements or other communications, each reflecting key EDI messaging that encourages broad and diverse participation in the procurement process, with a clear understanding of DEN’s expectations and commitments.

“This example of our commitment to EDI demonstrates that together we can collaborate and innovate to make meaningful impact not just at DEN, but in our community,” said DEN CEO, Phil Washington. “These new practices will enrich our process to identify the best partners to award contracts to, so that across all our efforts and at every level we are integrating values of equity, diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, and sustainability into our business.”

These are just some of the ways DEN’s procurement process is embracing stronger focus on advancing equity through means such as a more comprehensive examination of race and ethnicity, gender identity, individuals living with disabilities, age, and LGBTQIA+ communities in its practices. Doing so will not only help fortify the growth and sustainability of small businesses, but it enriches DEN’s business with unique, balanced and equitable perspectives and approaches to project completion.