Contract for the Provision of Travel Services for Immigration Purposes

Tender description

The Home Office is responsible, under UK legislation including but not limited to the Immigration Act 1971 and the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, for detaining and/or enforcing the removal of certain persons. It is necessary to provide sufficient travel methods (not exclusively air travel) to ensure that individuals with no legal basis to remain in the UK can be removed to overseas destinations. This includes ensuring those methods can accommodate vulnerable individuals, such as those with medical conditions, or those who refuse to comply with transfer. The Authority is seeking a commercial partner to provide a number of fully integrated services in regards to Travel. These services include (but are not limited to): - Providing a comprehensive travel service that complies with requirements and restrictions imposed by airlines in relation to immigration passengers on scheduled flights; - Providing tickets for Service Users, taking into account restrictions imposed by individual airlines; - Following detailed and specific individual airline procedures for obtaining refunds; - Managing relationships with the carriers to maximise cost-effective opportunities; - Provision of a complete Charter service to meet the requirements of the Home Office; - Provision of accommodation for Home Office staff and representatives when required. Please note the authority may also require the provision of UK based vehicles with drivers (predominantly coaches) focused around the South Coast of England, however this may extend to other regions across the UK. This will be confirmed prior to ITT launch. Lot 1: The Authority is seeking a commercial partner to provide a number of fully integrated services in regards to Travel. These services include (but are not limited to): - Providing a comprehensive travel service that complies with requirements and restrictions imposed by airlines in relation to immigration passengers on scheduled flights; - Providing tickets for Service Users, taking into account restrictions imposed by individual airlines; - Following detailed and specific individual airline procedures for obtaining refunds; - Managing relationships with the carriers to maximise cost-effective opportunities; - Provision of a complete Charter service to meet the requirements of the Home Office; - Provision of accommodation for Home Office staff and/or representatives when required. Please note the authority may also require the provision of UK based vehicles with drivers (predominantly coaches) focused around the South Coast of England, however this may extend to other regions across the UK. This will be confirmed prior to ITT launch. The potential length of contract will be 5 years from service commencement, with options to extend on one or more occasions up to a maximum of a further 2 years. The estimated contract value in this PIN is calculated over the potential maximum term of 7 years including optional extensions. Additionally, the estimated contract value does not include pass through costs which are associated with the purchase costs for tickets, chartering aircraft(s) and hotel bookings. The pass through costs over the life of this contract are estimated to be in the range of £300m - £2bn. The content of this PIN, including the nature of services and estimated value (including estimated value of pass through costs), may be subject to change. Note that services may include but not be limited to current and future related service requirements. This service is volumetric and any estimated values (including estimated value of pass through costs) may be subject to change up or down depending on the amount of activity undertaken during the life of contract. Additional information: Market engagement will be held for interested Suppliers on 11th + 12th December 2023 (may be subject to change). Market Engagement will be held virtually. Further details of events to follow upon receipt of a signed NDA. Contact: Escorting-Commercial@homeoffice.gov.uk