Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has awarded a new travel and venue booking service framework - with increased virtual solutions and carbon net zero opportunities for customers
The Travel and Venue Solutions (RM6217) agreement will provide a complete range of UK and global corporate booking services including the introduction of virtual, digital and hybrid meeting solutions to further enhance the customer one-stop-shop' journey.
It consolidates two existing CCS commercial agreements - Public Sector Global Travel and Venue Solutions and Public Sector Travel and Venue Solutions (the latter expiring in February 2022), whilst meeting additional requirements such as private charter services, and COVID-19 travel test kit solutions.
For the first time, as the public sector increasingly focuses on ways to cut carbon emissions through responsible business travel, a scoring system has been introduced into the procurement process that will ultimately award suppliers who are driving innovation in the CNZ arena.
Bidders were asked to set out how they will report on CO2 emissions per trip and how they will offer the most environmentally efficient solution through online booking tools, enabling customers to make more sustainable choices.
It is just one of a range of solutions from CCS designed to help customers with decarbonisation across their procurement portfolio.
Travel and Venue Solutions will go live on 15 December and will run for up to 4 years. Customers can call-off at any time during the lifetime of the framework.
Richard Denney, Commercial Director, Corporate Services Pillar, CCS says:
The new framework provides customers with an end-to-end solution for all their travel and venue needs, recognising that the UK public sector is paying more attention than ever to sustainability.
It is another example of how CCS is working with customers to help them overcome their net zero challenges and help the UK to build back greener.
Innovations
- the new lotting structure provides a broader offering in one consolidated framework, reducing the need for customers to separate their requirements across multiple agreements
- lots have been separated to make it easier for customers to direct award and to reduce the implementation period
- the scope of the framework has been expanded to include but not be limited to:
- introduction of additional services to cover security, crisis management such as repatriation, emergency evacuation and exclusive use accommodation
- additional services specifically for air/boat/heli charter services covering passengers and cargo
- access to market-leading suppliers with the capability to provide the latest innovations in travel solutions technology through their online booking tool (OBT)
Travel and Venue Solutions: Lotting structure
The lots will comprise:
Lot 1 - Booking Solutions Point of Sale UK
Lot 2 - Booking Solutions Points of Sale UK & Overseas
Lot 3 - Booking Solutions Specialist Needs
Lot 4 - Booking Solutions Venues & Events
Find out more
To find out more about Travel and Venue Solutions visit the agreement webpage or contact the CCS Service Desk at info@crowncommercial.gov.uk or 0345 410 2222.
Don't forget, you can find a full list of all the commercial agreements we offer, alongside details of how we can help you build policy considerations into your procurement, in our interactive digital brochure.