Solicitation 19MU3026Q0002 Travel Management Services.pdf

Embassy of the United States of America Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

December 16, 2025

Dear Prospective Quoter:

Subject: Request for Quotations number 19MU3026Q0002

Enclosed is a Request for Quotations (RFQ) for Travel Management Services to the U.S. Embassy Muscat. If you would like to submit quotation, follow the instructions in Section 3 of the solicitation, complete the required portions of the attached document, and submit it to the address shown on the Standard Form 1449 that follows this letter.

The U.S. Government intends to award a contract/purchase order to the responsible company submitting an acceptable quote at the lowest price. We intend to award a contract/purchase order based on initial Quotations, without holding discussions, although we may hold discussions with companies in the competitive range if there is a need to do so.

The Embassy intends to conduct a pre-quotation conference at the Embassy Compound. The pre-proposal conference will be held on January 06, 2026 at 10:00am, at the US Embassy Muscat Conference Room.

Prospective offerors/quoters interested in attending the pre-proposal conference should register through https://forms.office.com/g/H0REwwnBUP?origin=lprLink or scan the below QR Code no later than January 05, 2025, before 1200hrs to arrange their entry to the building.

Technical questions to be submitted to MuscatProcurement@state.gov on or before January 08, 2026 – 1400hrs.

Quotations are due by January 21, 2026, before 1400hrs. No quotations will be accepted after this time. Quotations must be in English and incomplete quotations will not be accepted.

Your quotation must be submitted electronically to MuscatProcurement@state.gov with the subject line “Quotations for 19MU3026Q0002”. It is important to make sure the submission is made in specific size and format; in MS-Word 2007/2010 or MS-Excel 2007/2010 or Adobe Acrobat (pdf) file format. The file size must not exceed 30MB. If the file size should exceed the 30MB, the submission must be made in separate files and attached to separate emails with less than 30MB each.

https://forms.office.com/g/H0REwwnBUP?origin=lprLink mailto:MuscatProcurement@state.gov mailto:MuscatProcurement@state.gov

In order for a quotation to be considered, you must also complete and submit the following:

1. SF-1449

2. Section I, Pricing

3. Section 5 Representations and Certifications

4. Additional information as required in Section 3

5. The Quoter should submit a completed IRS Form W-14, found at www.irs.gov/w14, to ensure compliance with FAR 52.229-11.

6. Proof of SAM Registration Quoters are generally required to be registered and active in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov prior to submission of a quotation. However, for overseas quoters where SAM registration does not exist at the time of quotation submission , quoters will be required to complete SECTION 5 before each option year is exercised if the Contracting Officer so desires in extending the term of the award (52.217-9). Quoters that are registered in the SAM database at https://www.sam.gov at the time of the offer/quotation submission will be required to update their account on an annual basis (52.204-7) to comply with the offeror’s identification requirement found in SECTION 5 of this solicitation. Therefore, quoters are highly encouraged to register in SAM to minimize the risk of not updating SECTION 5 and 52.204-90 on an annual basis..

Sincerely, Benjamin R. Deese Contracting Officer

Enclosure:

http://www.irs.gov/w14 https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

1. REQUISITION NUMBER

PR15662265

2. CONTRACT NO. 3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE

DATE

4. ORDER NUMBER 5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

19MU3026Q0002

6. SOLICITATION ISSUE DATE

December 16, 2026

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL:

a. NAME

Muscat Procurement

b. TELEPHONE NUMBER(No collect calls)

+96824644629

8. OFFER DUE DATE/ LOCAL TIME

January 21, 2026 / 1400

9. ISSUED BY CODE 19MU30 10. THIS ACQUISITION IS UNRESTRICTED OR SET ASIDE:____ % FOR:

US Embassy Muscat

SMALL BUSINESS WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

Jamiat Al Dowal Al Arabiya, Bldg. 32 Shatti Al Qurum, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELLIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM NAICS: 561510

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

EDWOSB

8 (A) SIZE STANDARD:

11. DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINAT-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

N/A

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13b. RATING

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

RFQ IFB RFP

15. DELIVER TO CODE 16. ADMINISTERED BY CODE

Same as block 9 Same as block 9

17a. CONTRACTOR/

OFFERER

TELEPHONE NO.

CODE FACILITY

CODE

18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

Financial Management Offce Jamiat Al Dowal Al Arabiya, Bldg. 32 Shatti Al Qurum Oman

CODE 19MU30

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN

OFFER

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK

BELOW IS CHECKED SEE ADDENDUM

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

Travel Management Services to U.S. Embassy, Muscat Oman.

See section 1 for details.

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA 26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

27a.SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED

27b.CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN 2 COPIES TO

ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND DELIVER ALL ITEMS SET

FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY ADDITIONAL SHEETS

SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED HEREIN.

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF. _________________ OFFER DATED ____________. YOUR

OFFER ON SOLICITATION (BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH

ARE SET FORTH HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

30a. SIGNATURE OF QUOTER/CONTRACTOR 31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print) Benjamin R. Deese

31c. DATE SIGNED 12/16/2025

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED: _______________________________

32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE 32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 32f. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

33. SHIP NUMBER 34. VOUCHER NUMBER 35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

36. PAYMENT 37. CHECK NUMBER

PARTIAL FINAL

COMPLETE PARTIAL FINAL

38. S/R ACCOUNT NO.

39. S/R VOUCHER NO. 40. PAID BY

41.a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT 42a. RECEIVED BY (Print) 41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER

41C. DATE

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42c. DATE REC’D (YY/MM/DD) 42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1 - THE SCHEDULE

• SF 1449 cover sheet

• Continuation To SF-1449, RFQ Number 19MU3026Q0002, Prices, Block 23

• Continuation To SF-1449, RFQ Number 19MU3026Q0002, Schedule of Supplies/Services, Block 20

Description/Specifications/Work Statement

• List of Attachments to Description/Specifications/Statement of Work, Government Furnished Property

• Attachments

SECTION 2 - CONTRACT CLAUSES

• Contract Clauses

• Addendum to Contract Clauses - FAR and DOSAR Clauses not Prescribed in Part 12

SECTION 3 - SOLICITATION PROVISIONS

• Solicitation Provisions

• Addendum to Solicitation Provisions - FAR and DOSAR Provisions not Prescribed in Part 12

SECTION 4 - EVALUATION FACTORS

• Evaluation Factors

• Addendum to Evaluation Factors - FAR and DOSAR Provisions not Prescribed in Part 12

SECTION 5 - OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Offeror Representations and Certifications

• Addendum to Offeror Representations and Certifications - FAR and DOSAR Provisions not Prescribed in

Part 12

SECTION 1 - THE SCHEDULE

CONTINUATION TO SF-1449

RFQ NUMBER 19MU3026Q0002

PRICES, BLOCK 23

(1) DESCRIPTION

The Contractor shall provide travel management services to the U.S. Embassy Muscat. as described in this solicitation.

The contract type is requirements type contract for all travel management services required by the agencies set forth in Section 1, paragraph 27.0. The contract will be for a one-year period from the date to start services, set forth in the Notice to Proceed, with four one-year options to renew.

2.0 TRANSACTION FEES AND COMMISSION REFUND PROCESS

2.1 Transaction Fee. The Government shall pay the Contractor a transaction fee based on a fixed rate per transaction. See also Section 1, continuation of block 20, paragraph 2.0, Definitions, and paragraph 17.0 for further information on handling of transaction fees. See also paragraph 15.0 for a further description of Government Travel Charge Card, Centrally Billed Account (CBA), and Government Travel Request (GTR) sales.

2.2 Reserved

2.3 PRICING

2.3. A. VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT)

Value Added Tax (VAT) is not applicable to this contract and shall not be included in the CLIN rates or Invoices because the U.S. Embassy to Oman is a fully accredited diplomatic mission and diplomatic missions are exempt from VAT. In the event that VAT is implemented in Oman, the US Embassy shall be responsible for producing a VAT exemption certificate upon request and modify the contract as appropriate to address any issues related to VAT.

2.3. B. Quoted prices shall include Defense Base Act (DBA) insurance premium costs in accordance with FAR 52.228-3

2.3. C.

Transaction Description Base Period

Option Period 1

Option Period 2

Option Period 3

Option Period 4

One-Way Ticket Fee includes reservation, ticketing, and transportation to/from Muscat International Airport per travel order. The maximum number of travelers in one travel order is up to ten (10) travelers.

Travel may be domestic, international, or a combination of both.

Roundtrip Ticket Fee includes reservation, ticketing, and transportation to/from Muscat International Airport per travel order. The maximum number of travelers in one travel order is up to ten (10) travelers.

Travel may be domestic, international, or a combination of both.

Multicity Ticket Fee includes reservation, ticketing, and transportation to/from Muscat International Airport per travel order. The maximum number of travelers in one travel order is up to ten (10) travelers.

Travel may be domestic, international, or a combination of both.

DEFENCE BASE ACT (DBA)

Defense Base Act (DBA) insurance premium costs covering employees must be included in the price.

MINIMUM / MAXIMUM

The contract guarantee minimum for the entire contract (base and all option years) is Two hundred fifty (250) Tickets. The contract maximum for base and all option years is Six thousand (6,000) Tickets.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1.0 - Scope of Work

• 2.0 - Definitions and Acronyms

• 3.0 - Contractor Requirements for Providing Official Travel Services

• 4.0 - Contractor Priority

• 5.0 - Furnishing of Equipment/Property

• 6.0 - Space for Performance of Required Services

• 7.0 - Minimum Personnel Requirements

• 8.0 - Contractor’s Quality Control Plan

• 9.0 - Transition Requirement and Continuity of Services

• 10.0 - Deliverables

• 11.0 - Notice to Proceed, Period of Performance and Options

• 12.0 - Place of Performance

• 13.0 - Hours of Service

• 14.0 - Basis of Compensation to the Contractor

• 15.0 - Billing and Payment Procedures

• 16.0 - Refund Procedures

• 17.0 - Transaction Fee Procedures

• 18.0 - Security

• 19.0 - Government Approval and Acceptance of Contractor Employees

• 20.0 - Key Personnel

• 21.0 - Personal Injury, Property Loss or Damage (Liability)

• 22.0 - Insurance

• 23.0 - Bonding of Employees

• 24.0 - Permits

• 25.0 - Post Award Conference

• 26.0 – Task Order Issuance

• 27.0 – Requiring Activity

CONTINUATION TO SF-1449

RFQ NUMBER 19MU3026Q0002

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES, BLOCK 20

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

1.0 Scope of Work

1.1. The Contractor shall provide corporate travel services for official domestic and international travel of U.S. Government employees and their dependents. Domestic and international travel includes travel within the country in which the U.S. Embassy Muscat, Sultanate of Oman is located and travel outside that country, including travel within the U.S and other countries. The corporate travel services that the Contractor shall provide include:

• Travel reservations, issuance and delivery of tickets for air carriers; and where possible, advance seat assignments and advance boarding passes;

• Commercial vehicle rental services;

• Advise of Visa and Health Regulations in travel destination and transit points, including travel insurance as and when required by the traveler.

• Detailed travelers’ itineraries;

• Management information and billing reports derived from the booking database;

• Automated reconciliation of travel charges incurred through the Government's Centrally Billed Account (CBA) accounts;

• Information pamphlets for Government travelers who use the contract.

1.2. Each of these items is discussed in detail in Section 1, continuation of block 20, paragraph 3.0, "Contractor Requirements for Providing Official Travel Services".

1.3. The Contractor shall also, if requested, provide on an open-market basis, complete personal travel services and support for Government employees and their dependents requesting personal (unofficial) travel arrangements. However, no individual is required to use the services under this contract for personal travel. The transaction fees listed in the Pricing portion of this contract apply only to official travel. The Contractor may charge the same fee or a lesser or greater fee for personal travel. However, the Contractor is responsible for posting in a clearly visible public place the transaction fees to be charged for personal travel.

1.4. The Contractor shall also provide travel services for any individual sponsored by a participating agency under this contract, including personnel on temporary duty.

Additionally, the Government is often called upon to assist U.S. citizens who wish to return to the U.S. The Contractor may be called upon to assist with the travel arrangements in such cases. The Contractor shall direct any question as to whether or not a service should be provided to a particular person, to the Contracting Officer or the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

1.5. Upon the request of employees or other persons with disabilities traveling on official business, the Contractor must arrange necessary and reasonable accommodations, including but not limited to airline seating, in-terminal transfers, ground transportation and barrier-free or otherwise accessible lodging.

2.0 Definitions and Acronyms

Agency – U.S. Government activity at post, such as State Department, Foreign Commercial Service, or Foreign Agricultural Service.

ARC - Airlines Reporting Corporation. Website: http://www.arccorp.com.

Business Day - Sunday through Thursday, except holidays listed in Section 2, DOSAR 652.237- 72, “Observance of Legal Holidays and Administrative Leave”.

CBA - Centrally Billed Account. Account established by a charge card Contractor at the request of an agency as defined in this document. Consolidated airline ticket charges accrued through use of centrally billed accounts shall be billed monthly. Expenses billed against centrally billed accounts are paid to the Government travel charge card program Contractor.

Commission - Amount paid to the Contractor by another entity not a party to this contract, such as an airline, for each airline ticket the Contractor books for that airline.

COR - Contracting Officer's Representative. See Section 2, DOSAR 652.242-70, Contracting Officer's Representative (COR)

CRS - Central Reservation System. A major airline computer reservations system, such as Apollo, Sabre or Worldspan.

Embassy – Refers to U.S. Embassy Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Also refers to any consulates listed in paragraph 1.1 above.

Emergency - An unforeseen combination of circumstances that calls for immediate action. The term emergency includes, but is not limited to, disasters, forest fires, evacuations, floods, and civil unrest.

http://www.arccorp.com/ eTS – also known as E-Gov Travel Service, ETS is a government-wide, automated web-based worldwide travel management service launched in April 2002. Additional information may be accessed through GSA’s website, http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/27096.

Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) - See 41 CFR Chapters 300-304. Chapter 301 governs travel and transportation allowances for Federal civilian employees. Available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402-9325: (1) as a bound volume of the Code of Federal Regulations (41 CFR, Chapter 201 to end); and (2) in a loose-leaf edition. Also available on the internet at: http://www.policyworks.gov.

Fly America Act - See 49 U.S.C. 40118. The Fly America Act requires Federal employees and their dependents, consultants, contractors, grantees and others performing United States-financed air travel to travel by U.S. flag carriers. Details contained in 41 CFR 301-10.131 through 301-

10.143 and 14 FAM 583.

Government - U.S. Government, including all participating U.S. Government agencies.

Government Excess Baggage Authorization/Ticket (GEBAT) - Issued by the carrier to the traveler when presented with a GTR that authorizes the carriage of excess baggage. The GEBAT is used by the carrier(s) to support subsequent billing of charges. Excess baggage is reimbursable up to the weight authorized. NOTE:

GEBAT’s are gradually disappearing. If the traveler is not using a GTR, the traveler will pay for excess baggage with a credit card or cash.

Government Travel Charge Card - General Services Administration (GSA) Contractor-issued charge card to be used by travelers of an agency to pay for passenger transportation services, subsistence expenses and other allowable travel and transportation expenses incurred in connection with official travel. Although the employee is liable for payment of all charges incurred, including those for ATM withdrawals, the employee shall be reimbursed by his/her agency for all authorized and allowable travel and transportation expenses.

GSA - U.S. Government General Services Administration.

GTR - Government Travel Request issued on a SF-1169 which is provided to a carrier or a carrier’s agent to procure passenger transportation services for the account of the U.S. Government. The GTR shall be used as a supporting document with the bill for the transportation charges.

Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990 - Public Law 101-391, September 25, 1990. An Act to amend the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to allow for the development and issuance of guidelines concerning the use and installation of automatic sprinkler systems and smoke detectors in places of public accommodation affecting commerce, and for other purposes. A copy of the Act can be obtained by writing:

Hotel/Motel Fire Safety, Office of Fire Prevention and Arson Control, Fire Administration, 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727, USA. As defined in the Act, this only applies to the United States and its territories as described on the website at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/hotel.

http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/27096 http://www.policyworks.gov/ http://www.usfa.fema.gov/hotel

Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act National Master List - Places of public accommodation in the United States and its territories that meet the fire prevention and control guidelines under the Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act. Current information is also available on the internet at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/hotel.

Lowest Available Fare - Except for the constraints of the airline contract program described in Section 1, continuation of block 20, paragraph 3.2.2 and the Fly America Act, Section 1, continuation of block 20, paragraph 3.2.3, the Contractor shall book the lowest available fare in accordance with agency policy, if any, as expressed in the contract. If reservations made by the Contractor are not at the lowest available rate allowed, at the time of ticketing, the Contractor shall refund the difference to the Government.

Media - A broad spectrum of methods used to provide a permanent record of communications (examples include paper, EDI, electronic, floppy disk, optically stored media, computer disks, microfiche, microfilm, computer to computer communications via mode, Networks (value added), facsimile or any other acceptable method of available communication).

OAG - Official Airline Guide. Official Airline Guide (both Flight and Travel Guides). The OAG is available on the internet at http://dos.oag.com/reg.htm.

The OAG is available on A/LM’s intranet site at http://almopsttm.a.stte.gov/online-traveler]

Official Travel - Travel that is paid for and/or for which the traveler is reimbursed by the Government.

Personal Travel - Travel that is paid for by the employee/dependent and for which reimbursement will not be provided by the Government.

PNR - Passenger Name Records

Refund - Ticket refund consists of the value of the ticket, but does not include transaction fee or other service fee associated with issuing of the ticket. For billing purposes under this contract, a refund is not a separate transaction.

Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) - Used by the Government to audit the Contractor’s billings. SCAC code may be obtained from the National Motor Traffic Association, Inc. 2200 Mill Road, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone (703) 512-1800. The current cost is $28.00 ($24.00 to renew). The SCAC is only applicable if a GTR is used for payment.

Taxes and Fees - Charges for transportation imposed on travelers by other authority, such as U.S. Government federal taxes, airport passenger facility charges.

Transaction - Issuance of a ticket for common carrier transportation, or changes to that ticket after issuance.

Other travel reservations associated with the travel under that ticket, including but not limited to, hotel reservations, car rental, and other traveler services, are not considered a transaction for purposes of charging a transaction fee.

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/hotel http://dos.oag.com/reg.htm http://almopsttm.a.stte.gov/online-traveler

Transaction Fee - Fee, charged by the Contractor, for issuance of a ticket for common carrier transportation or changes to that ticket, after issuance. Paragraph 17.0 addresses when a transaction fee may be charged for a transaction.

Travel Authorization - Document authorizing official Government travel.

Travel Management Center (TMC) - A commercial travel firm under contract to US Embassy Muscat, Sultanate of Oman that provides reservations, ticketing and related travel management services for Federal travelers. The commercial travel firm must be an IATA-certified travel company operating in Oman, which is able to issue commercial carrier tickets in USD or local currency using a credit card with the airline as the vendor.

Representation at Muscat Airport is desirable.

Travel Services - Transportation reservations, issuance and delivery of tickets for all modes of transportation;

reservations for lodging and vehicle rental services; and ancillary support related to travel.

Traveler’s Checks - GSA Government travel charge card program Contractor-issued traveler’s checks.

User- Friendly - Ease of use geared towards those with a rudimentary or limited knowledge of computer systems and operations. The knowledge base includes how to log on and off the system, simple menu-based functions in a typical graphical user interface Windows-like environment, (for example, as point and click functions such as file, open, close), simple one-step commands, such as search, print and save.

3.0 Contractor Requirements for Providing Official Travel Services

3.1. Taxes - When reservations are made for official business, the Contractor shall ensure that rate does not include taxes for which diplomatic personnel are exempt.

3.2 Transportation

3.2.1 The Contractor shall comply with mandatory Government programs for air travel. Except for the constraints of the “City Pairs” contract program noted below, and the Fly America Act, the Contractor shall book the lowest available fare that satisfies the agency’s mission requirements. If reservations made by the Contractor are not at the lowest available rate allowed by policy, the Contractor shall refund the agency the difference.

3.2.2. City Pairs Program

3.2.2.1. GSA has awarded contracts to certain airlines for reduced air fares between numerous city/airport pairs. The contract air service (e.g., 'YCA', '_CA') is mandatory for official Government travel (which includes all travel funded by the Government), unless the Government approves the use of non-contract fares under the exceptions specified in the FTR. In cases of separate contract awards between specific airports in cities, the traveler may use the airport that best meets their needs without further justification. These contract fares may be obtained only with a GTR, a Government Travel Charge Card or a CBA.

3.2.2.2. Promotional or other types of discount fares can be used on contract city/airport pair routes if they are offered by the contract carrier and are lower in cost than contract fares. Contract fares shall not be used for any personal travel, including those instances where portions of personal travel are substituted for a leg of an officially authorized trip.

3.2.2.3. There are a limited number of non-contract fares (YDG or similar), restricted to official

Government travelers, which are obtainable only with a GTR, Government Travel Charge Card, or CBA. Such fares can only be used when contract fares are not available or when offered by the contract carrier in that city/airport pair route at a lower cost than the contract fare.

3.2.2.4. When non-contract carriers offer restricted or unrestricted coach fares to the general public which are lower than the Government contract fares, the Contractor may only use such lower fares on the application of exceptions contained in the current GSA Airline City-Pair Program. GSA contracts annually for air passenger transportation services between designated city/airport pairs. Since the contract is awarded annually the contractor must check the most current contract found on the Internet at http://www.gsa.gov, then click on “Travel on Government Business”.

3.2.2.5. It should be noted, however, that any restricted fare which provides for a monetary penalty for itinerary changes or flight cancellations shall not be used without the written consent of the using agency.

3.2.2.6. Full coach fares may be used if no reduced fares are available.

3.2.3 The Fly America Act generally precludes use of non-US flag carriers, except as provided in the FTR and the Foreign Affairs Manual, Volume 6.

3.2.4. The Contractor shall provide the Government with the reservation and ticketing services which industry practice normally accords USG affiliated travelers, to include new and improved reservation and ticketing technologies. These shall include a 24-hour, toll-free number available to travelers to perform emergency itinerary changes and emergency services outside regular business hours. The Contractor shall be responsible for ensuring that any subcontractor providing such emergency service complies with all conditions of the contract.

3.2.5. The Contractor may only issue premium class tickets for which the Government will have to pay an additional amount when the accompanying travel orders provide authority for that travel. This does not apply to situations in which frequent flyer benefits will be used to obtain the premium class tickets.

3.2.6. Back-to-back faring, or hidden city ticketing are prohibited under this contract.

3.2.7. The Contractor shall provide the traveler with last seat availability, advance seat assignment, and advance boarding passes on all airlines for which the Contractor can offer these services.

http://www.gsa.gov/

3.2.8. The Contractor shall make adjustments for any change(s) in flight, train, bus or steamship schedules. Tickets and billings shall be modified or reissued to reflect these changes.

3.2.9. The Contractor shall make a timely effort to notify travelers of airport closings, canceled or delayed flights, trains, buses or voyages.

3.3. Lodging

3.3.1. The Contractor shall provide lodging reservation services. These services shall include initiating and confirming reservations and confirming the rate at which the reservation is made.

3.3.2. Where the Government has agreements with hotels/motels for discount Government rates, the Contractor shall endeavor to obtain such rates for Government travelers. (Frequently these rates are capacity-controlled.) If necessary, to obtain Government rates, the Contractor shall call such hotels directly, rather than by toll-free numbers. The Contractor shall also make available to the Government any lower-priced, guaranteed corporate or other discount rates it has negotiated at these or other hotels.

3.3.3. Final selection of accommodations rests with the traveler. If reservations made by the Contractor are not made at the lowest available Government rate, the Contractor shall refund the Government the difference. Since final selection of accommodations rests with the traveler, the reservations made by the Contractor shall be made at the lowest available rate that complies with the traveler’s request, or the Contractor shall refund the Government the difference. Lodging reservations for Federal Government employees on official business shall comply with the Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990 (see Definitions). Selected lodging shall comply with the Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990, if available, unless an exception is granted by the COR. As stated in the definition in paragraph 2.0, the Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990 only applies to the United States and its territories.

3.4. Rental Vehicles

3.4.1 The Contractor shall reserve commercial vehicles for Federal travelers, if requested. The Military Traffic Management Command, Department of Defense, has negotiated Government discount rates on an unlimited mileage, flat daily or weekly basis with major rental automobile companies. Participating locations of these companies have agreed to make these rates available to civilian as well as military employees. These companies and their established discount rates are the first source for Federal travelers, as required by the FTR.

Considering daily or extended rates, the Contractor shall reserve vehicles from these sources or, if no vehicles are available at Government rates, from other firms at the lowest total cost available to the traveler, which includes full loss/collision damage waiver (LDW/CDW), to the traveler.

3.4.2. Under the FTR, it is incumbent upon the traveler to be prudent in selecting the method of ground transportation that best meets the traveler’s needs. Therefore, since the final selection of car rental companies and car sizes rests with the traveler, the reservations made by the Contractor must be made at the lowest available rate which conforms to the traveler’s request, or the

Contractor must refund the agency the difference. If reservations made by the Contractor are not the lowest available Government rate, the Contractor shall refund the agency the difference.

3.5. Related Services

3.5.1. Health Requirements. The Contractor shall provide travelers with advice on necessary health requirements, including types of inoculations and vaccinations whether required or suggested for foreign travel.

3.5.2. Information Pamphlets

3.5.2.1. The Contractor shall develop, print and deliver to the Government, pamphlets listing procedures for traveler use of the services under this contract. These should be approximately pocket or letter size, about two pages long, and should provide Contractor phone numbers and other relevant information. The Contractor shall prepare as many pamphlets as required by the Government, subject to approval by the Contracting Officer/COR, who shall review the pamphlet before it is printed and delivered in quantity to the Government. The Contractor shall maintain at its expense a sufficient supply of these pamphlets throughout the duration of the contract and furnish additional quantities after the initial quantity, when requested by the Contracting Officer/COR.

3.5.2.2. Additionally, the Contractor shall include one pamphlet with each ticket and itinerary package ordered during the first quarter of the contract period (first three months), and the first quarter of any option years extended under the term of any resulting contract(s).

3.5.3. Special Fares/Packages - The Contractor shall advertise special fares/packages and tours in the

Embassy weekly newsletter. The Contractor shall make arrangements for this advertisement with the Contracting Officer/COR.

3.6. Traveler's Itineraries - The Contractor shall provide to each traveler a complete, printed itinerary document including, but not limited to the following:

• carrier(s);

• flight, train, bus and voyage number(s);

• if applicable, annotate that the traveler refused the contract or lowest fare offered;

• departure and arrival time(s) for each segment of the trip;

• vehicle rental company, to include name and telephone number of suppliers, pickup and return dates, location of pickup, confirmed rate and confirmation number and, where applicable, special pickup instructions and hours of operation, notably for off-airport suppliers.

• local phone numbers (the latter only if available in the country in which these services are provided) for both the servicing office and the after-hours emergency services location.

• a statement and a copy of the passenger receipt coupon of all charges associated with the transportation ticket, including the ticket number, price, fees charged and a description of those fees.

• Indicate type of ticket, electronic or paper.

• if use of a non-contract carrier is authorized, the Contractor shall annotate one or more of the following reasons to show contract city-pair coverage and agency justification for non-use. The Contractor may use alpha or numeric codes for representation;

• Space or scheduled flights are not available in time to accomplish the purpose of travel, or use of contract service would require the traveler to incur unnecessary overnight lodging costs which would increase the total cost of the trip; or

• The Contractor's flight schedule is inconsistent with explicit policies of individual Federal departments and agencies, where applicable, to schedule travel during normal working hours; or

• A non-contract carrier offers a lower fare available to the general public, the use of which will result in a lower total trip cost to the Government, to include the combined costs of transportation, lodging, meals, and related expenses.

Note: This exception does not apply if the contract carrier(s) offers a comparable fare and has seats available at that fare, or if the lower fare offered by a non-contract carrier is restricted to Government and Military travelers on official business and may only be purchased with a GTR or Government contractor issued general charge card, such as, YDG, MDG, ODG, VDG and similar fares.

3.7. Ticket Delivery “Reserved”

3.7.1. Tickets shall routinely be provided upon ticketing unless the Government requests otherwise. The Contractor shall deliver tickets only to employees designated by the Government. When agreeable to the traveler and Government, the Contractor may generate electronic tickets.

3.7.2. Travelers shall be provided an itinerary and confirmation number in advance of travel. Prepaid tickets shall not be used as a routine method of providing tickets.

3.8. Traveler's Checks: Reserved

3.9. Management Reports and Deliverables - The Contractor shall provide the Government with management information reports. As a minimum, the Contractor shall develop the following reports which shall be delivered within the time frames set forth in Section 1, continuation of block 20, paragraph 10.0:

3.9.1. MONTHLY PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS REPORT - A concise narrative (no more than one page) of the Contractor's activities. This report shall identify problems and recommend solutions.

The report shall include suggestions to enhance service, where appropriate. The Government encourages interim reports, as deemed necessary by the Contractor;

3.9.2. MONTHLY SALES ACTIVITY REPORT - A summary of sales activity data. The Contractor shall prepare the report in accordance with the sample in Section 1, Attachment 3. This summary shall reflect all official sales activity for each agency using the contract, whether the travel was purchased using a GTR, Government Travel Charge Card or CBA.

3.9.3. RECONCILIATION REPORT OF TRANSPORTATION BILLINGS

3.9.3.1. The Contractor shall provide automated reconciliation of transportation billings charged through user agencies' CBA accounts. The Contractor shall use an automated accounting system with direct interface among the reservation, ticketing and accounting elements so that all passenger reports and summary data are automatically generated from point-of-sale information.

3.9.4 MONTHLY TRANSACTION FEE REPORT

3.9.4.1. A monthly report based on the transaction fee schedule of the contract. This report shall list all transaction fees to be paid by user agency. The fees shall be broken down, not only by agency, but also by type of transaction, following the line items in the pricing portion of this contract. For example, if a courier is used, the transaction fee associated with courier delivery shall be listed separately from the standard transaction fee.

3.10. Communications System and Emergency Services

3.10.1. The Contractor shall provide service, Sunday’s, Monday’s, Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s &

Thursday’s, compatible with the Embassy’s standard workday. Section 1, continuation of block 20, paragraph 13.0, below sets forth the normal working hours for Contractor personnel providing services under this contract. The Contractor shall provide dedicated telephone service for the account(s) at no cost to the Government, to include:

• a 24-hour phone number available to travelers which will allow immediate access to a reservation agent to perform emergency itinerary changes outside regular business hours;

3.10.2. The Contractor shall be responsible for ensuring that any subcontractor providing 24-hour emergency service complies with all conditions of the contract.

3.10.3. In the event of emergencies (e.g., Presidential-declared disasters, forest fires, evacuations, floods, hurricanes, etc.), the Contractor shall maintain operations necessary to support the Government under this contract. This includes manning the office 24 hours a day as required by the Government responding to the emergency/evacuation and providing necessary delivery of tickets.

3.10.4. The Contractor shall answer at least 80 percent of calls within 20 seconds and provide a recorded message for those calls not answered in 20 seconds. The recorded message shall give the traveler at least two options:

• to hold or

• to leave a message for a call back.

Return calls shall be made within one (1) hour. The Contractor shall respond to facsimile or e-mail requests by close of business on the following business day, unless travel is scheduled on a weekend, holiday, or business day subsequent to the day of the request.

3.10.5. Many times, services required outside normal working hours are as a result of visits by U.S. Government officials to the Embassy. In providing this service, the Contractor may be required to provide Travel Counselors/Reservationists on weekends, holidays and/or weekdays before or after normal office hours. In adhering to this requirement, the Contractor shall comply with all local labor laws including the payment of staff overtime when applicable. Additionally, the Contractor shall provide travelers' assistance services to official visitors. The average annual number of visitors requiring traveler’s assistance services 1000 tickets. Services would be of a "Visitors Bureau" type that, as a minimum, could include the following:

• Travel Changes and Confirmations

• Entertainment Reservations, including short excursions

3.10.6. The Contractor shall be capable of accepting most major credit cards for payment of travel services.

3.10.7. Emergencies - The Contractor shall continue to provide services during emergencies or contingencies. In connection with evacuations or large-scale air movements of noncombatants, refugees or troops, the Contractor shall establish temporary office or expand existing services, as appropriate, to expedite travel (such as, Noncombatant Evacuation Operation missions). The Government will provide its own facilities during emergencies, as required.

3.11. Media - In addition to the required reports, the Contractor shall produce, within reasonable parameters, other management reports in formats and media requested from time to time by the Contracting Officer. To compile such reports, Contractor's back-office computer shall be capable of collecting all data from reservation and ticketing records in the format requested. The Contractor shall also have the capability to capture data for reports when the CRS is not operating and for airlines that do not subscribe to a CRS.

3.12. Telefax Capability - The Contractor is required to have international FAX capability at each site from which services are provided under this contract.

3.13. Project Management - The Contractor shall provide reservation agents, personnel and equipment necessary to assure that the highest quality of service is provided. The Contractor shall have the capability to make reservations and provide tickets at its servicing office(s) when its Centralized Reservation System (CRS) is not operating and when reservations cannot be made on an airline through a CRS. The Contractor shall provide the U.S. Embassy General Services Office staff access to the Centralized Reservation System (CRS) to monitor the travel reservations made for U.S. Government employees or paid for by the U.S. Government.

3.14 eTravel Service (eTS) - The electronic travel (eTravel) project is grounded in the President’s E-

Government initiative and the Administration’s commitment to employ the latest technology to create a more efficient, citizen-centered Federal Government. The eTravel project was launched in response to The President’s Management Agenda. eTravel is a change management initiative that is supported and enabled by technology. Its mission is to improve the internal efficiency and effectiveness of the Federal Government by simplifying applicable policies and regulations and by implementing common administrative processes for Government travel services that eliminate duplicative and redundant processes and systems.

eTravel is a collaborative, inter-agency initiative whose purpose is to realize operational efficiencies, cost-savings, and increased service to the Federal traveler through a common, automated, and integrated approach to managing Federal Government travel functions.

The eTravel initiative provides a web-based, end-to-end travel management service for use by all civilian Executive Branch departments and agencies of the Federal Government. There are currently three vendors awarded contracts to support the eTravel: Northrop Grumman Mission Systems; CW Government Travel;

and EDS. Use of the eTravel Service (eTS) by Executive Branch agencies is established by policy and regulation. The eTravel Program Management Office ensure compliance with the policies, regulations, and use of the common Government-wide eTS.

Information on the eTS can be found by clicking the eTS web page.

3.15 eTravel Service Requirements - In support of eTS, as specified in agency task orders, the Contractor shall:

• Ensure that products/services provided to participating agencies complement and support the eTravel Service (eTS) and its objectives in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The objective of the eTS is to:

• Consolidate travel processes at the Government-wide level;

• Consolidate travel processes through the common Government-wide eTravel

Service

• Consolidate data to enable leveraging the Government’s travel buying power;

• Provide an integrated, web-based travel management environment that is customer-centric, self-service, and offers end-to-end travel services from travel planning, reservation and ticketing services through voucher approval and common data output for agency financial systems;

• Facilitate and simplify the travel process for the Federal traveler, and improve customer service to the Federal traveler; and foster superior customer satisfaction;

• Accelerate reimbursement of travel expenses to the Federal traveler and to travel charge card vendors;

• Enable central travel management and make travel procedures configurable at the department, agency, and subordinate organization levels;

• Minimize or eliminate the Government’s capital investment as well as Government-wide operational and maintenance costs;

• Significantly reduce the cost of Federal travel management to achieve dramatic savings by avoiding unnecessary duplication of automation efforts by the various federal agencies;

http://egov.gsa.gov/QuickPlace/e-gov/PageLibrary85256D72003ED2F8.nsf/h_Toc/FEA5867D5B93438485256D72003EED2F/?OpenDocument

• Provide Government-wide consolidated and aggregated data to support world class travel management and afford greater visibility into Federal travel processes for continued management improvement and cost savings;

• Leverage commercial and Government travel management best practices and adopt commercial standards and practices wherever possible;

• Maximize the use of open architecture standards, as well as leverage industry standards and commercially available services and support items.

• Work and exchange data with the eTS Contractor under contract with the Government as specified in the task order. This may include interfacing/integrating with the eTS provider by providing contact information, telephone numbers, file formats/sample PNRs, open branch access/pseudo city codes; participating in subcontractor/teaming agreements; participating in training and/or meetings; non-disclosure agreements;

synchronization and security requirements; etc. Unless otherwise mutually agreed to between the eTS and TSS contractors, ownership of the PNR shall reside with the ticketing entity. Each eTS contractor’s standards for accommodating non-eTS travel agent service providers is provided at Attachment 1.

• The Contractor must state its understanding that its services, products and processes offered must complement the eTravel Service (eTS) for all civilian agencies using the eTS. If the Contractor is offering a booking engine in conjunction with its offered services, it must state its understanding that such a booking engine may only be offered to those agencies not participating in the eTS (in full or in part) and/or to those agencies not subject to the Federal Travel Regulation.

3.16 eTravel Service Definitions

Transaction A - Air and/or Rail Ticket with or without Lodging and/or Car Rental Reservations: Transaction A fee applies for all arrangements and reservations related to one itinerary for which an air or rail ticket is issued. The fee includes making and changing arrangements (air/rail, lodging, and/or car rental) for one or multiple locations. The fee may only be charged at time of ticket issuance and is not refundable if the travel is subsequently cancelled. The transaction fee covers the processing of refunds or credits for unused tickets.

An additional transaction fee may be incurred if changes in the itinerary require the issuance of a new ticket.

The Contractor shall not charge a fee for cancellations made prior to issuance of tickets. Research of travel arrangements, changes to existing arrangements, and air/rail reservations for which tickets are not generated shall not be considered Type A transactions.

Transaction B - Lodging and/or Car Rental Reservations: Transaction B fee applies for all arrangements and reservations related to one itinerary for which an air or rail ticket is not issued. The fee includes making and changing lodging and/or car rental arrangements for one or multiple locations when air or rail transportation is not included in the itinerary. Research of travel arrangements, changes to existing arrangements, and reservations that are cancelled prior to the check-in date shall not be considered Type B transactions

3.17 ETS Delays. In the event there are delays with the implementation of ETS, the contractor shall only be required to provide the agent assisted or on-site travel management services as set forth in this contract until ETS is implemented, and the OBE is configured to support the Post population

4.0. Contractor Priority - The Government's travel requirements shall be accorded the highest priority. The Contractor must ensure that non-Governmental travel considerations do not delay, impede, or frustrate the Contractor's timely effective processing of official Government travel.

5.0 Furnishing of Equipment/Property

5.1. The Government will provide the property listed in Section 1, Attachment 4. The Contractor has the option to reject any or all Government furnished property or items. However, if the Government furnished property is rejected, Contractor shall provide all necessary property, equipment or items, adequate in quantity and suitable for the intended purpose, to perform all work and provide all services at no additional cost to the Government. The Contractor shall use all Government furnished property or items only in connection with performance under this contract.

The Contractor is responsible for the proper…