NIGP 99370: Travel-Out, Travel Agency Fee

NIGP 99370 Travel-Out, Travel Agency Fee is an Item code covering travel planning, booking, and coordination services that state and local governments purchase for employee and student travel, study abroad programs, and institutional travel initiatives. State and local issuing bodies under this code include higher education institutions, which commission comprehensive travel packages encompassing airfare, ground transportation, accommodations, meals, and experiential components. The scope of work extends beyond simple ticket booking to include vendor management of full trip logistics, ground handling coordination, local partnerships, and educational or business integration aligned with institutional objectives. University of Houston-Downtown is an active buyer in this space, soliciting travel services for international study abroad programs.

University of Houston-Downtown posted RFP 784-27-2725 on August 17, 2026, with a response deadline of September 1, 2026 for a faculty-led study abroad program in Spain and Portugal scheduled January 5–17, 2027, serving 22–28 students and two faculty members. The procurement calls for a vendor to arrange international airfare from Houston (IAH) to Lisbon and Madrid or Barcelona, accommodations (minimum 3-star with double occupancy for students and single for faculty), daily breakfast, at least two group dinners, airport transfers, ground transportation with on-site representation, and industry visits and university engagement opportunities. The target budget is approximately $4,000 per participant inclusive of all travel-related services. The vendor must provide detailed pricing across the full participant range, submit three professional references from higher education or comparable organizations, and carry Commercial General Liability of $1 million per occurrence, Professional Liability of $5 million, and Commercial Automobile Liability of $1 million. The University of Houston-Downtown procurement weighs Travel Arrangements and Quality (25 points), Industry and Experiential Learning Opportunities (30 points), Local University and Academic Engagement (15 points), Cost and Overall Value (20 points), and Vendor Experience and References (10 points).