Travel services

Tender description

The University of Essex (UoE) is seeking a framework agreement for a maximum of 2 suppliers who will be able to deliver travel management services. There will be no proportion of services allocated to each bidder. As part of the framework agreement both suppliers will have equal opportunity to set up and implement their services ready to be used by the university. End users will then be able to select which of the framework suppliers to use for their specific travel needs based on best value for money and /or speed of response to travel requests. No level of expenditure is guaranteed by UoE. UoE employs approximately 3 000 staff including staff based in international offices any of who may require access to the booking tool. The framework agreement will be for 3 years with an option to extend for 1 year. The framework agreement will cover the full range of services and will be delivered via an online booking tool and an offline booking service provided by the successful bidders. The suppliers need to provide a One Stop Shop to enable all associates of the authority to book and pay for including but not limited to: Core services: 1) hotel accommodation; accommodation: global hotels, apartments – variety of options, hotels for training and meetings, 2) air: UK Domestic, international and low cost airlines including add-on's, (increase luggage, priority boarding etc) 3) air: international domestic flights i.e. Beijing to Shanghai including budget airlines outside of Europe, 4) airport transfers, 5) ferry, boat travel, 6) rail: UK & international (eg Japanese bullet train) + Eurostar, 7) rail: all UK undergrounds, 8) group travel including student field trips, Optional services: 9) ability to book travel for accompanying family members separate to business travel and charge separately, 10) business class travel for air and 1st class rail, 11) UK airport coaches and airport parking, 12) UK taxis and coaches, 13) overseas car hire, 14) international transport:, taxis coaches. This should intelligently and proportionally enact the Authority’s travel and accommodation policies. The suppliers must hold accreditation with ATOC, ABTA, IATA, ATOL.