Winning Design-Build Proposals: From REFI to Project Award DBIA NYC (April 29, 2026)

Registration Closed

The Art and Effort of the Design-Build Proposal: From Expression of Interest through Project Award is a dynamic, half-day workshop designed for owners, contractors, designers, and project leaders navigating today’s increasingly complex design-build procurement environment. As proposal demands intensify—requiring more effort, higher costs, tighter schedules, and deeper integration—this workshop offers practical insight into how successful teams compete, collaborate, and win.

Through a blend of presentation, panel discussion, and hands-on workshop exercises, participants will explore the full lifecycle of the design-build proposal process, from early engagement (RFEI/LOI) through RFQ, RFP, interviews, BAFO, and post-award transition. Industry leaders will share real-world strategies for managing multiple pursuits, balancing key personnel, coordinating narratives without fully developed designs, and aligning design, construction, and estimating teams under deadline pressure.

Attendees will gain valuable perspective on what owners are truly seeking at each phase, how shortlisting decisions are made, and how teams can stand out with clear storytelling, compelling graphics, and well-coordinated technical and cost narratives. The workshop also addresses the growing importance of digital collaboration platforms—such as Microsoft Teams and SharePoint—and how teams can use them more effectively to manage schedules, reviews, and content development.

A moderated panel featuring experienced professionals from contracting, design, and legal perspectives will provide candid discussion on proposal best practices, common pitfalls, and lessons learned. Interactive breakout sessions will allow participants to review sample responses, develop win themes, and simulate BAFO negotiations, ensuring practical takeaways they can apply immediately.

Whether you are an owner refining your procurement approach or a design-build team looking to improve win rates and efficiency, this workshop delivers actionable insights, peer learning, and tools to strengthen proposal performance and collaboration across the industry.

Steven Kramer, PE, FASCE

Senior Vice President

COWI

Steven Kramer, PE, FASCE is a Senior Vice President at COWI. He has over 40 years of experience in engineering firms serving the infrastructure industry. Steve led the design, management and construction of over 75 underground projects around the globe with construction values up to $2 billion using conventional and alternative delivery methods.

A frequent speaker on the implementation of alternative delivery and active participants at industry conferences and in technical societies, Kramer has published more than 90 technical and management papers. Kramer served as the 2023 President of the ASCE Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute (UESI).

Allison Agliardo

Senior Director of Commercial Management

Amtrak

Allison Agliardo is a Senior Director of Commercial Management at Amtrak with more than 25 years of experience delivering complex transportation infrastructure projects. Her work focuses on procurement strategy, contract structuring, and risk allocation for large-scale public projects.

She has played a key role in advancing major initiatives including the Hudson Tunnel Program, working alongside agencies such as the Gateway Development Commission and regional stakeholders. Previously, Ms. Agliardo held senior roles at Arup, and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, where she advised on project delivery strategy, managed major design‑build procurements, and supported governance and risk programs for large portfolios.

Allison offers practical, owner-side perspective on the procurement process. Her work focuses on aligning project objectives with market realities to drive successful project delivery.
She holds a BS in Civil Engineering, a BA in Geology and is a resident of New York City.

Paul Monte

Chair - Infrastructure Practice

Peckar & Abramson, P.C.

Paul Monte is Chair of Peckar & Abramson's Infrastructure practice. He regularly advises constructors on transactions and disputes on major public and private projects, including design-build and P3 mega-projects. Whether building subways, highways, bridges, railways, water treatment plants, or energy projects, Paul has been called on to help manage, pursue, and deliver projects timely and profitably.

Michael Mifsud

Vice President of Operations

Skanska USA Civil Northeast

Michael Mifsud is Vice President of Operations for Skanska USA Civil Northeast. He is a licensed PE, and Certified DBIA Professional with BS, and MS Engineering Degrees from Columbia University. Michael and has 27 years of experience managing Design-Build projects from teaming and proposal stage through design and construction stages. He has led 14 Design-Build projects through the full project lifecycle for East coast clients including Amtrak, WMATA, MBTA, PATH, and MTA Agencies including Metro North, Long Island Railroad, NYCT, and MTA C&D.

On these and many other projects, Michael has led collaboration of project teams during pre-award stage to optimize proposals and the team’s approach to meeting client goals and requirements.