47QMCB26R0001_DRAFT RFP Attachment 2 - Significant Changes.pdf
PDF 152 KB Posted
- Attached to
- FY27 City Pair Program Final RFP Amendment 0006
- Solicitation number
- 47QMCB26R0001
- Issued by
-
GSA Federal Acquisition Service
About this file
This document appears to be a modification/amendment comparison for a federal travel contract, specifically highlighting changes from fiscal year 2026 to fiscal year 2027. The primary modifications focus on defining and introducing a new "Contract Non-refundable (_CN) Fare" for government travel, which provides a lower-cost contract fare option with specific conditions such as potential administrative fees for rebooking or cancellation and auto-cancellation of unticketed reservations within 24 hours.
Key changes include adjustments to technical requirements for domestic and international routes, such as expanding connecting time allowances (e.g., international routes now allow up to 270 minutes versus 210 minutes previously), modifying maximum circuity calculations, and updating price evaluation criteria. The document also notes implementation of a "Revolutionary FAR Overhaul" (RFO) initiative aimed at simplifying federal acquisition regulations, which will be reflected in updated provisions and clauses in the Request for Proposal (RFP). These modifications are intended to provide greater flexibility for airlines, improve service offerings, and align with evolving federal procurement guidelines.
View the file
Other files
Show all 31
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
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. Administrative fee/penalty may apply for rebooking, re-ticketing, or cancellation. _CN fares are subject to auto-cancellation of all unticketed reservations if not ticketed within 24 hours of booking.
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. _CN fares are subject to auto-cancellation of all unticketed reservations if not ticketed within 24 hours of booking.
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 Government Non-Refundable Coach Fares:
(a) 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 coach class fares must be coded as
Adding to this definition to account for inclusion of new Contract non-refundable fare.
“_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.
C.3 Technical Requirements
B. Domestic Routes (Line Items) (2) (2) Description and Requirements: Note 1:
Group 1 and 2 domestic line items connect time must not exceed 150 minutes.
B. Domestic Routes (Line Items) (2) (2) Description and 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 and 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 and 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 International line items: and 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 and Requirements:
C – Connecting service with no more than one (1) stop (direct or connect, but not both) en route. Connecting time
E. International Business Class Line Items
(2) Description and Requirements:
C – Connecting service with no more than one
(1) stop (direct or connect, but not both) en route. Connecting time must not exceed 270 minutes. For International flights to/from
Updating to align with industry practice therefore capturing more qualifying service and increasing offers.
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.
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.
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%
For example: For international line items service with as great circle
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.
mileage of 6,010 miles, the maximum circuity is 9,015. (6,010*1.5=9,015).
E. International Business Class Line Items Maximum Circuity: Group 1 and 2 line items: 4,001-6,000 130%, and 6,001 miles or more 125%
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
(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.
operations. GSA may rely on any reasonable source of data to determine whether a carrier continues to meet the minimum service requirements.
G.3 Price Reduction
Any price reduction offered by a contract carrier must be for a minimum of thirty (30) calendar days.
Any price reduction offered by a contract carrier must be for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days.
Allow airlines greater 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 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.
In accordance with the President’s Executive Order Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .