47QMCB26R0001_FINAL RFP Attachment 2 - Significant Changes.pdf

Section FY26 Language FY27 Language Justification

B.2 Definitions

Contract Non-refundable Fare

(_CN)

N/A Contract Non-refundable (_CN) Fare - Contract fare offered by carriers in addition to YCA/_CA fare only in designated markets found in Attachments 4-6. Administrative fee/penalty may apply for rebooking, re-ticketing, or cancellation according to a contract carrier’s practice for commercial customers in the same fare class of service. _CN fares are subject to auto-cancellation of all unticketed reservations if not ticketed within 24 hours of booking. See C.13 and C.14 for information on _CN credits and refunds.

Provides a contract fare in under a managed spend position where currently is not benchmarking well against commercial fares and there is low compliance, the customer identified a need for this type of contract fare.

B.2 Definitions

_CN Fare

N/A _CN Fare ‐ A three‐character code used to identify capacity‐controlled coach class non-refundable contract fares for Government contract carriers. _CN fares are lower in cost than the YCA and _CA fare. Administrative fees/penalties may apply for rebooking, re-ticketing, or cancellation according to a contract carrier’s practice for commercial customers in the same fare class of service. _CN fares are subject to auto-cancellation of all unticketed reservations if not ticketed within 24 hours of booking. See C.13 and C.14 for information on _CN credits and refunds.

Provides a contract fare in under a managed spend position where currently is not benchmarking well against commercial fares and there is low compliance, and the customer identified a need for this type of contract fare.

B.4 Pricing Schedule for Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 Line Items

N/A 9. Government Non-Refundable Coach Fares:

Offers may include a Government non-refundable coach class fare in addition to the basic fare(s) offered only in designated markets found in Attachments 4-6. Non-refundable

Adding to this definition to account for inclusion of new Contract non-refundable fare.

coach class fares must be coded as “_CN.”

Non-refundable coach class fares may only be awarded to the offeror awarded the YCA fare for a specific line item. All awarded _CN fares must be placed above the bottom third of the carrier’s commercial fare classification code structure to be identified in the offer. The fare cannot be placed in the basic economy fare class. The fare must be lower than the offered YCA and (if offered) _CA fare.

If available, these fares must be made available on all flights for the fare classification in which the _CN fare is placed. If the fare class employed for the Government contract fare has seats available for sale, it must be provided to Government travelers. _CN fares are subject to advanced ticketing within 24 hours of booking. If the contract carrier closes the fare class employed for the Government contract fare, the Government understands that the _CN fare may not be available for sale to Government travelers at the time of reservation. If the _CN fare bucket changes during the term of the contract, it is anticipated that Government passengers both booked and/or ticketed at time of change will be protected in the new bucket.

(b) In those contracts that include non-refundable coach fares for Government travelers, carriers must provide such fares when authorized by the using agency in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation, Chapter 301 (Temporary Duty (TDY) Travel Allowances), the Joint Travel Regulations, and the Foreign Affairs Manual.

(c) Airport codes must be used in conjunction with the non-refundable coach class contract fare designator (_CN) in domestic line items. City codes may be used in conjunction with international and fifth freedom of the air _CN line items, unless otherwise noted.

C.3 Technical Requirements

B. Domestic Routes (Line Items) (2) Description of Requirements: Note 1:

Group 1 and 2 domestic line items connect time must not exceed 150 minutes.

B. Domestic Routes (Line Items) (2) Description of Requirements: Note 1: Group 1 and 2 domestic line items connect time must not exceed 160 minutes.

Updating to align with industry practice therefore capturing more qualifying service and increasing offers.

C.3 Technical Requirements

C. International Routes (Line Items) (2) Description of Requirements: Note 1:

For Group 1 and 2 connecting time must not exceed 210 minutes. Note 2:

Group 1 and 2 extended connection line items must not exceed 420 minutes.

C. International Routes (Line Items) (2) Description of Requirements: Note 1: For Group 1 and 2 connecting time must not exceed 270 minutes. Note 2: Group 1 and 2 extended connection line items must not exceed 480 minutes.

Updating to align with industry practice therefore capturing more qualifying service and increasing offers.

C.3 Technical Requirements C.4. (b)

(International Routes) Maximum Circuity: Group 1 and 2 line items:

4,001-6,000 130%, and 6,001 miles or more 125%

(International Routes) Maximum Circuity:

Group 1 and 2 line items:

4,001 miles or more 150%

For example: For international line items service with a great circle mileage of 6,010 miles, the maximum circuity is 9,015.

(6,010*1.5=9,015)

Updating to align with industry practice therefore capturing more qualifying service and increasing offers.

Also added an example of the calculation for clarity.

C.3 Technical Requirements

E. International Business Class Line Items

(2) Description of Requirements:

E. International Business Class Line Items

(2) Description of Requirements:

C – Connecting service with no more than one

Updating to align with industry practice therefore capturing

C – Connecting service with no more than one (1) stop (direct or connect, but not both) en route. Connecting time must not exceed 210 minutes. For International flights to/from Canada and Mexico, connection time must not exceed 180 minutes. For connecting service designated as extended connection listed in Attachment 4, total connecting time (origin/destination) must not exceed 420 minutes and up to two (2) stops are allowed. The offeror must list only valid connect points. No change of airports at connecting points is allowed in offers for international routes.

(1) stop (direct or connect, but not both) en route. Connecting time must not exceed 270 minutes. For International flights to/from Canada and Mexico, connection time must not exceed 180 minutes. For connecting service designated as extended connection listed in Attachment 4, total connecting time (origin/destination) must not exceed 480 minutes and up to two (2) stops are allowed.

The offeror must list only valid connect points.

No change of airports at connecting points is allowed in offers for international routes.

more qualifying service and increasing offers.

C.3 Technical Requirements

E. International Business Class Line Items

(4) Connecting Service:

(b) Maximum Circuity: The Government will not accept flights above the following maximum variances over the great circle mileage between each city pair to meet the required number of flights:

Great Circle Mileage Maximum Circuity 0 - 500 miles 175% 501 - 1,000 miles 160% 1,001 - 1,500 miles 145% 1,501 - 2,500 miles 140% 2,501 - 4,000 miles 135% 4,001 - 6,000 miles 130% 6,001 or more 125%

E. International Business Class Line Items

(4) Connecting Service:

(b) Maximum Circuity: The Government will not accept flights above the following maximum variances over the great circle mileage between each city pair to meet the required number of flights:

Great Circle Mileage Maximum Circuity 0 - 500 miles 175% 501 - 1,000 miles 160% 1,001 - 1,500 miles 145% 1,501 - 2,500 miles 140% 2,501 - 4,000 miles 135% 4,001 miles or more 150%

For example: For international line items service with a great circle mileage of 6,010 miles, the maximum circuity is 9,015.

(6,010*1.5=9,015).

Updating to align with industry practice therefore capturing more qualifying service and increasing offers.

Also added an example of the calculation for clarity.

C.13 Refunds Upon presentation of proper documents as specified in the Federal Travel Regulation or an alternative that has been mutually agreed upon with the respective Federal agency where the transportation invoice was paid (per GSA Order ADM 5450.39D CHGE 183), the contract carrier must fully and promptly refund all unused and partially unused portions of any Government contract fare ticket to the activity paying for the ticket, the travel management center issuing the ticket, or the individual traveler, as appropriate.

Upon presentation of proper documents as specified in the Federal Travel Regulation or an alternative that has been mutually agreed upon with the respective Federal agency where the transportation invoice was paid (per GSA Order ADM 5450.39D CHGE 183), the contract carrier must fully and promptly refund all unused and partially unused portions of any refundable Government contract fare ticket to the activity paying for the ticket, the travel management center (TMC) issuing the ticket, or the individual traveler, as appropriate.

All contract fares, with the exception of _CN fares, are fully refundable as provided for under this contract. _CN fares may be fully or partially refundable pursuant to relevant FAA regulations and/or in accordance with the contract carrier’s commercial refund policy.

Added clarification that this section applies to fully refundable fares only, not the new contract non-refundable fare.

C.14 Credits N/A If a ticketed _CN reservation is cancelled, and no refund or only a partial refund entitlement applies, a credit shall be issued by a contract carrier to the TMC for the individual traveler to re-use on official travel within 12 months of the original date of travel; upon expiration of the 12 months, the value of unused or partially unused portions of _CN fare tickets will be considered forfeited. Whether a _CN reservation is credited (or refunded) for a traveler missing (not cancelling) their flight or a segment thereof, is governed by each contract carrier’s commercial “no show” policy.

Refunds or credits paid for by centrally billed account must not be reimbursed to an employee or an employee’s individually billed

Guidance on credits in accordance with inclusion of new Contract non-refundable fare.

account. See 5 USC 5701, note; 41 CFR 301-

10.102; OMB M-13-21.

F.4 Service Below the Minimum

(c) Temporary Reduction or Temporary Cessation of Service. In cases where a contract carrier no longer provides service meeting all of the contract requirements in the awarded line item after the period of performance has begun, and the Government anticipates that the situation will continue for a period greater than fourteen (14) calendar days but less than one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days, GSA may re‐ award the affected contract line item(s) for service until such time as the initial contract carrier resumes service meeting all of the contract requirements. GSA will not typically apply this subsection (c) when the contract carrier no longer provides service meeting all the contract requirements in the awarded line item due to regularly scheduled reduction of service (e.g., seasonal discontinuance of flight service) or due to suspension/cancellation of airport operations. GSA may rely on any reasonable source of data to determine whether a carrier continues to meet the minimum service requirements.

(c) Temporary Reduction or Temporary Cessation of Service. In cases where a contract carrier no longer provides service meeting all of the contract requirements in the awarded line item after the period of performance has begun, and the Government anticipates that the situation will continue for a period greater than fourteen (14) calendar days but less than one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days, GSA may re‐ award the affected contract line item(s) for service until such time as the initial contract carrier resumes service meeting all of the contract requirements. GSA will not typically apply this subsection (c) when the contract carrier no longer provides service meeting all the contract requirements in the awarded line item due to regularly scheduled reduction of service (e.g., seasonal discontinuance of flight service) or due to suspension/cancellation of airport operations.

GSA may rely on any reasonable source of data to determine whether a carrier continues to meet the minimum service requirements.

Ability to recapture markets that offer best value service that are given back for 5-6 months. This has been identified by agencies as an efficient and effective method to meet their missions.

G.3 Price Any price reduction offered by a Any price reduction offered by a contract carrier Allow airlines greater

Reduction contract carrier must be for a minimum of thirty (30) calendar days.

must be for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days.

flexibility in changing their fixed price to match competitor pricing.

M.1(a) Evaluation Factors Factor 3: Price

For Group 1 line items, technical and non-price related factors are more important than price. As proposals become more equal in technical merit, the importance of price increases.

For Group 1 line items, technical and non-price related factors are significantly more important than price. As proposals become more equal in technical merit, the importance of price increases.

Align with FAR 15.104(d)(1) (GSA Class Deviation RFO- 2025-15).

M.5 Price Evaluation for Group 1

For all line items (excluding international business class line items in which _CB fares are part of the composite fares), business (_CB) and premium economy (_CP) class fares are not part of the award decision for coach service. After the award decision based on offered coach fare(s) has been made, business and premium economy class fares offered by the proposed awardee will be evaluated for price reasonableness only.

For all line items (excluding international business class line items in which _CB fares are part of the composite fares), business (_CB) class, premium economy (_CP) class, and non-refundable coach (_CN) class fares are not part of the award decision for fully refundable coach service. After the award decision based on offered coach fare(s) has been made, business class, premium economy class, and non-refundable coach class fares offered by the proposed awardee will be evaluated for price reasonableness only.

Adding to this to account for inclusion of new contract non-refundable fare.

M.5 Price Evaluation for Group 1

For Group 1 line items, technical and non-price related factors are more important than price.

For Group 1 line items, technical and non-price related factors are significantly more important than price.

Align with FAR 15.104(d)(1) (GSA Class Deviation RFO- 2025-15.

Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) GSA Deviated Clauses and Provisions

N/A. The RFO initiative returns the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to its statutory roots, rewrites it in plain language, and removes most non-statutory rules. Until the RFO completes the rulemaking process, GSA

In accordance with the President’s Executive Order Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement.

has issued RFO class deviations per FAR part.

The 2027 RFP is written in accordance with GSA’s class deviations that implement the RFO and GSA Class Deviation CD-2025-03. See updated provisions in Sections K.11, L.4, and L.5 of the RFP. See updated clauses in Section I of the RFP.

Proposal Checklist Items

N/A Please upload representations and certifications in accordance with FAR 52.222- 52 Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services–Certification (May 2014) (Deviation Nov 2025) and FAR 52.229-11 Tax on Certain Foreign Procurements–Notice and Representation (Jun 2020) (Deviation Jul 2025) to the respective folders as part of the Document Checklist tab in CPSS.

Required provisions within the FY27 solicitation.