| Date | Category |
|---|---|
| 26th March 2024 | Member Update |
(4-minute read)
We’re pleased to announce the launch of our re-tendered Travel Management Services Framework to all SUPC members, as well as members of the following partner consortia:
- Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC)
- Higher Education Purchasing Consortium Wales (HEPCW)
- London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC)
- North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC)
- North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC)
Led by Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC), this re-tendered agreement provides member organisations with a compliant one-stop-shop for a wide range of specialist Travel Management services, comprising ticket bookings, auxiliary transport services, accommodation, and tourist assistance services.
The main changes from the previous agreement include:
- A fresh look at the marketplace and access to up-to-date service offering
- Addition of Lot 3 – Combined (Business and Student Travel) to best fit HE Sector requirements and culture
- Revised pricing mechanisms on all Lots to support long-term robustness of services.
What are the benefits of using the Travel Management Services framework agreement?
- Compliant and fast route to market
- Levy of 0.25% on Lot 2 only, Student Group Travel
- Competitive rates – transparent pricing with a clear fee structure
- A small group of suppliers to best fit HE Sector requirements and culture
- A set of standard added-value services across all suppliers, complemented by supplier specific added-value services on
- Pre-negotiated Terms and Conditions.
The following suppliers have been awarded to the agreement under 3 lots:
How do I call-off from the framework agreement?
Call-off from this framework agreement is by means of:
- Further Competition, where additional requirements, are to be introduced into a particular Call-Off contract to better fit the individual member’s needs
- Direct Award to top ranked supplier, and /or supplier with commercial rationale as defined by member (e.g., pre-existing relationship to avoid incremental costs of listing and supplier onboarding time)
- Desktop Exercise where weightings can be adjusted to better fit the individual member’s strategic requirements.
How has sustainability, equality and diversity been considered as part of the tender?
Sustainability is of key concern to the HE sector and our suppliers are encouraged to operate and promote sustainable practices.
Suppliers were evaluated in terms of their approach to:
- Modern Slavery and ethical treatment of workers in their supply chain
- Carbon reduction achievement and reporting
- Commitments to delivering social value including community and voluntary schemes supported.
Further information
Full agreement details, including how to use the agreement, the timescales and best practice, are available through the HE Contracts Database.
Join our webinar on 17 April to hear more:
We are hosting a webinar in conjunction with the awarded suppliers on the framework.
Date: Wednesday 17 April 2024
Time: 11:00-12:00
Location: Online via teams
About SUPC
At Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC), we help universities and colleges buy smarter. Members use our frameworks and support services to make sure their procurement activities deliver value for money to students, staff and wider communities. Visit our member resources page to learn more about using frameworks with us. We are part of the SUMS group, which also includes SUMS Consulting and the Procurement Shared Service. The SUMS group provides procurement and consultancy solutions to the higher education sector.