Clarity Travel Ltd has been re-awarded the contract to look after the University of BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载’s travel requirements. The tender process was an open tender which meant any supplier in the market could bid for the contract.
As part of the extensive re-tender process over the last 18 months, a Travel User Group was created, with members from all faculties and Professional Services. The group also included representatives from the accessibility team, the Sustainability Implementation Group, Health and Safety, trade unions, staff who book travel and some of the travellers themselves.
Key facts about the process and improvements in the contract
- There were 54 members of the Travel User Group and 27 of those became evaluators who looked through each of the suppliers’ proposals and scored them.
- The new contract will include a price match guarantee, which means Clarity commits to match genuine like-for-like cheaper prices found by clients elsewhere, subject to certain conditions which will be made available on the Booking Information page of the Travel SharePoint site.
- Also under the new contract, it is recognised that a small proportion of travel requirements will not be suitable for booking by Clarity and these exceptions can be booked elsewhere, subject to conditions also found on the Booking Information page of the Travel SharePoint site.
The Travel User Group had extensive input into the requirements for the new travel contract resulting in a final specification that has been thoroughly refreshed and includes improvements in the following areas:
- Digital accessibility requirements
- A clear focus on booking system usability
- A stronger sustainability focus
- Improved and more frequent engagement with end-users
- Continued focus on traveller safety processes.
The Clarity booking platform, having been upgraded in the autumn of 2024, will continue to provide the same ease of access as Users have today.
Further details about the contract will be made available in due course.
Wendy Appleby, Vice-President (Operations) says: “We have been through an extremely comprehensive process, testing the different aspects of the travel management process and hearing about experiences in other universities. The level of collaboration across the University to support this procurement has been great and I appreciate the vast effort from everyone involved.
“We have worked hard to create a new contract which responds to the concerns we have heard previously and will effectively support the University in its travel requirements for the next few years. I am pleased that we can now offer price matching, as well as clear information about exceptions to the contract.”
You will be able to find more information on SUSSED and on the Travel SharePoint site shortly.