LUPC is pleased to announce the award of the new Framework Agreement for Business Travel Services, exclusively for LUPC Members. The framework is a multi-supplier agreement with four suppliers and runs for four years. It follows an intense tender competition using the EU ‘competitive dialogue’ procedure.
This email sets out the basics and tells you how to start using the agreement. If you currently use the existing LUPC travel contract with Key Travel, we’d also like to hear from you about your plans to transfer to the new agreement – please see below.
Benefits of using the new Agreement:
- Highly competitive pricing, with guarantee schemes aimed at getting Members the best fares
- An OJEU-compliant route through which LUPC Members can book worldwide travel
- A Framework designed with LUPC Members specifically in mind, with special services e.g. ‘route deals’ and visa services
- A choice of on-line and telephone booking services
- An excellent set of added value services and tools for LUPC Members
Calling off:
Members wishing to use the framework agreement will have two possible options, either:
- To seek further competition before awarding a contract by inviting written tenders from all capable suppliers; or
- Since the terms laid down in the framework agreement are sufficiently precise to enable the award of a contract directly to a supplier without further competition, a Member may make the award to the supplier offering the “Most Economically Advantageous Tender” by means of the “cascade” method, i.e. by inviting the supplier ranked highest using the original award criteria to enter into a contract first, and if that supplier is unable to provide the services, by inviting the second-highest ranked supplier, and so on.
Copies of the final proposal from each supplier are available for inspection on CuPID.
We Need to Hear From You
In order to facilitate a manageable transition to the new Agreement for those Members who use the existing contract with Key Travel, we have extended the current contract for Members until either: (a) the Member completes the transition or (b) 31 December 2010; whichever is the earlier.
Members who are using the existing contract are asked to:
- Avail themselves of the suppliers’ offers using the documentation on CuPID, then
-
Complete and return the attached pro forma to Darran Whatley at the email address above, telling us about your plans. This is not a commitment on your part at this stage – just an indication.
Members who do not use the existing contract can start using the new one as soon as they wish. Contact Darran Whatley if you need help.
Contact:
Darran Whatley
Senior Contracts Manager, LUPC
Tel: 0207 863 1693
Email: darran@lupc.lon.ac.uk