TMC_Q A_Responses_(7.22.15).docx

Q1. Clauses 15.2 and 3.2.3, TMC refunding the difference in fares/rates: can you please explain the specifics of this requirement? What is the benchmark for measurement?

15.2. The Contractor shall refund immediately the difference in cost if the Contractor has failed to book the lowest available fare except for the constraints noted in Section 1, continuation of block 20, paragraph 3.2.1, that satisfies agency needs. No transaction fee shall be charged for this refund, but neither shall the transaction fee paid by the Government, be refunded by the Contractor.

A1.The USG has established rates for reduced airfares with US carriers between numerous city/airport pairs (please refer to clause 3.2.2 City Pairs & 3.2.3 Fly America Act) if the contractor books airfares outside of these constraints the contractor is liable to refund the difference in cost, meaning the cost between the lowest published fare within the aforementioned constraints and cost of the actual booking made by the TMC.

Q2.CBA: Citibank is the provider, is this a Diners, MasterCard of Visa product?

A2. CBA or Centrally Billed Account is a Citibank Visa product.

Q3.5.5. Please advise as follows:

a) Is there any scope for paying fees for these services in line with transaction fees which are applicable for other services?

b) The number and locations of these events per annum.

c) Are they only in Australia or international?

d) Please clarify the following sentence: 'transportation to the seminar meeting site'. Does this mean air travel from, for example Canberra to Sydney to attend a meeting, or does it mean ground transportation from an airport to the meeting?

A3

This is not an actual requirement for our solicitation and therefore, a solicitation amendment will be issued deleting this portion of the scope of work.

Q4. E tickets: we assume that these are acceptable across all travellers?

A4.E-ticketing is acceptable to all travelers and the eTravel project is grounded in the President’s E-Government initiative please refer to section 3.14 or the solicitation, however where there is a requirement to supply a hardcopy/paper ticket the vendor shall make the ticket available and deliver the ticket via a courier service should it be required.

Q.5 Pamphlets: while we are happy to print these, in the light of the above re e tickets, is it acceptable for these to be provided electronically by PDF, or as content in the itineraries provided to travellers?

A.5 This is not an actual requirement for our solicitation and therefore, a solicitation amendment will be issued deleting this portion of the scope of work.

Q.6 ETS: we provide our customers with a single sign on travel portal through which all corporate travel requirements can be met. Is this an acceptable platform to meet the requirements of 3.14 eTravel? If not can you supply full specifications of the system with which we need to integrate?

A.6 The successful vendor’s online booking tool will provide integration with the governments E2 booking system as outlined in Attachment 1 – E-Travel Service Standards for Accommodating External Agent Services. For more information please contact the POC Michael McManus as per the contact details included in the solicitation.