47QMCB24R0002 Amendment 0005 SF30 02_29_2024.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. CONTRACT ID CODE PAGE OF PAGES

1 5

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO.

AMENDMENT #0005

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

SEE BLOCK 16C

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.

5. PROJECT NO. (IF APPLICABLE)

6. Issued By Code QMACB 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) Code

General Services Administration

Travel Acquisition Support Branch

1800 F Street, NW

3rd Floor, HUB 3400

Washington, DC 20405

8. Name and Address of Contractor (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code (x) 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

47QMCB24R0002

X 9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

2/14/2024

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

CODE FACILITY CODE

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

X The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended X is not extended.

Offer's must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15 and returning 1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c)

By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

[ ] A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO.

IN ITEM 10A.

[ ] B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF :

[ ] C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF :

[ ] D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return __ copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

FY25 City Pair Program, Worldwide

Amendment 0005 to Solicitation 47QMCB24R0002 is hereby issued to provide the Government’s responses to vendor submitted FINAL RFP questions

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

James Santini

CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 16C. DATE SIGNED

________________________________________ BY ______________________________________________

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

PREVIOUS EDITION UNUSABLE 30-105 STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA, FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

General Services Administration City Pair Program

FY25 Requirement for Scheduled Air Passenger Transportation Services

Solicitation No. 47QMCB24R0002

Attachment 7

No

Solicitation

Reference

Vendor Question Government Response

Section Page #

B.2

C.16

11-12

Can a route restriction be applied when the offeror is offering a codeshare partner by a line item? For example, can a contract carrier limit the flights traveled on a particular line item (B.2 Definition – Route Restriction), providing the codeshare partner on select legs only.

Yes, as long as the minimum requirement for the market is being met.

B.2 6 Where service is available, may carriers include Landline (Code l4) bus service, with identifying flight number/carrier code, as part of its offered service for applicable contract line items?

No, as stated in C.2 of the RFP, this contract is to provide scheduled air passenger transportation service by certified United States air carriers, under 14 CFR Part 121, for various solicited domestic, international, and fifth freedom of the airline items.

B.4 15

With the removal of auditing language for -CA fares, does this statement still apply?

All awarded _CA fares must be placed above the bottom third of the carrier’s commercial fare classification code structure to be identified in the offer.

Yes, this statement still applies.

All awarded _CA fares must be placed above the bottom third of the carrier’s commercial fare classification code structure to be identified in the offer. This to ensure access to inventory as well as avoiding major restrictions such as Basic Economy type fare requirements.

B.4 (#5) 16 Under Sec. B.4.5., "Last seat (inventory) availability applies to the service on a carrier’s own flights as well as all offered domestic codeshare partner(s). On international line items, last seat (inventory) availability applies to the service on a carrier’s own flights, as well as all offered codeshare partner(s). On fifth freedom of the air line items, last seat (inventory) availability applies to the service on a carrier’s own flights."

Does this mean the codeshare class mapping must be “Y to Y” (or the highest unrestricted economy class for the operator in the case of a non-traditional class hierarchy)?

Yes, it would be the last available seat in the coach class inventory on the YCA fare only. For further clarification on what is coach class inventory reference: This is the lowest full “Y” fare at which every coach seat is available for sale and may be purchased for one-way travel. The class of accommodation that is normally the lowest class of fare offered by common carriers regardless of terminology used. For reference purposes only, coach class may also be referred to as tourist class, economy class, steerage, or standard class.

41 CFR 300-3.1 “Coach class” https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-41/part-300-3#p- 300-3.1(Coach%20class)

B.4 (#5) 16 Under Sec. B.4.5., "Last seat (inventory) availability applies to the service on a carrier’s own flights as well as all offered domestic codeshare partner(s). On international line items, last seat (inventory) availability applies to the service on a carrier’s own flights, as well as all offered codeshare partner(s). On fifth freedom of

Last seat availability means the government has access to coach seating until there is no longer a seat available to book / confirm in coach class on the flight.

the air line items, last seat (inventory) availability applies to the service on a carrier’s own flights."

Due to various global inventory controls, the marketing “Y” inventory may close before the operating “Y” inventory. At what point is this closure discrepancy in violation of the “last seat availability” requirements?

B.4 (#7) 16 We’ve noticed an increase in markets soliciting PE bids. Could the GSA provide passenger expectations on these fares in terms of volume of traffic?

Government agencies identified a bona fide need for Premium Economy fares (_CP) in markets where _CP can be offered. The estimated passenger counts found in the RFP Attachments 4- 6 are inclusive of all fares.

B.4 (#8) 17 There has been a large decrease in the number of Business markets YoY. Is the GSA able to shed light on what is driving that?

The number of markets where Business class is being solicited increased from 97 (FY24) to 110

(FY25).

Typically, Business Class requirements were not requested for shorter international flights.

C.3.C(2) 27 Connecting service for Group 2 international line items must have no more than one (1) stop en route.

However, for many markets, it is impossible for any US carrier to provide service with this condition. Some examples include the following:

a. 5419 BAHJAX

b. 9954 FUKORF

c. 13500 OKAORF

d. 7885 COSRIX

e. 7830 COSKRK

f. 10151 GLAORF

g. 5434 BAHSAT

Could the GSA reevaluate Group 2 international markets to ensure availability of service and modify requirements if necessary?

These markets and additional markets in Attachments 4 and 5 have been re-classified as Extended Connect.

C.3.C(2) 27

For Group 1 international markets that are extended connections, two stops are allowed. If they meet the

Yes, Group 1 international markets designated as Extended Connect are scored the same according to criteria identified in M.3 METHOD OF

EVALUATION/AWARD FOR GROUP 1.

connecting time criteria, would a route with one stop be scored the same as a route with two stops?

Factor 2: Quality of Service, for example Subfactor 2 Average Elapsed Time, would be a differentiating factor in the number of points received.

C.16 36 Can an offeror provide a codeshare partner that is not included in the IATA Bilateral Interline E-ticketing

Agreements Table (BIETA)? The CALM system allows for an offeror to select “Yes” or “No” under K.7 of the Section K Checklist.

The codeshare partner needs to be Department of

Transportation approved.

F.7 42 F.7 EDUCATION AND COMPLIANCE

GSA endeavors to ensure that travelers and their agencies are using CPP properly and maximizing the benefits of the program. Carriers are urged to identify travelers and their agencies that can benefit from educational outreach efforts. In instances where the carrier has concerns about the usage of CPP, the circumstance and any attendant documentation should be brought to the attention of the Contracting Officer for prompt resolution.

Will the GSA consider removing unawarded carriers from the booking tool display of Federal Agencies?

This is a common applicable technology that is available in most commercial booking tools.

CPP does not control agency policy that includes fare availability in their online booking tool (OBT), and which meets mission requirements.

Configurations in OBT show CPP fares and carriers first for selection as well as remarks for compliance.

F.7 42 F.7 EDUCATION AND COMPLIANCE

GSA endeavors to ensure that travelers and their agencies are using CPP properly and maximizing the benefits of the program. Carriers are urged to identify travelers and their agencies that can benefit from educational outreach efforts. In instances where the carrier has concerns about the usage of CPP, the circumstance and any attendant documentation should be brought to the attention of the Contracting Officer for prompt resolution.

If question 1 is not possible will the GSA consider identifying the awarded carrier as the preferred carrier in the booking tools in those markets where thy have been awarded?

Configurations in OBT show CPP fares and carriers first for selection as well as remarks for compliance.

F.7 42 F.7 EDUCATION AND COMPLIANCE

GSA endeavors to ensure that travelers and their agencies are using CPP properly and maximizing the benefits of the program. Carriers are urged to identify travelers and their agencies that can benefit from educational outreach efforts. In instances where the carrier has concerns about the usage of CPP, the circumstance and any attendant documentation

Reason code data received from agency TMCs is sporadic and not reliable for analysis. CPP is unable to provide this data to the carriers.

should be brought to the attention of the Contracting Officer for prompt resolution.

Will the GSA provide reason codes to carriers where CPP travelers select a carrier other than the awarded carrier?