NIGP 96287: Travel, Local (Provided by Third Party)

NIGP 96287 Travel, Local (Provided By Third Party), an Item code, covers air charter and ground transportation services that state and local governments procure for organized group travel, including athletic team charters, official delegations, and specialized transport needs. The code encompasses aircraft rental with crew, catering, ground logistics, and related travel services where the third-party vendor assumes operational and liability responsibility. State and local issuing bodies soliciting under this code include higher-education institutions—particularly university athletics departments—municipal governments, and other public agencies requiring time-sensitive or specialized group mobility. Recent activity shows Texas Southern University as a repeat buyer, soliciting air charter services for collegiate athletic programs.

Texas Southern University issued ITB #717-26-756 on June 18, 2026, for athletic air charter travel services to transport approximately 130 passengers—student-athletes, coaches, athletics staff, trainers, equipment personnel, and authorized travelers—on three separate roundtrip flights to away football games in El Paso, Fort Lauderdale, and Huntsville, Alabama during the 2026 season. The scope requires narrow-body jet aircraft accommodating passengers, luggage, football equipment, medical supplies, and team gear, with in-flight catering, comfortable seating with extra legroom, lavatory access, and optional Wi-Fi. Vendors must hold all required FAA certifications, demonstrate a proven record providing collegiate or professional athletic team charter services, and submit contingency and emergency response plans. Award criteria include proposed costs, contractor stability and business success, quality and reliability of services, delivery terms, and probable contractor performance; TSU reserved the right to award to multiple vendors. Pricing must be firm for 90 days and include all applicable taxes, fees, fuel surcharges, baggage handling, landing fees, and operational costs, with vendors certifying a fixed maximum percentage of escalation for initial and subsequent contract terms. Bids exceeding $100,000 required Form 1295 certification unless the vendor was publicly traded, and respondents had to certify compliance with Executive Order GA-48 regarding foreign adversary restrictions.