Decision details

Award of Contract for the Provision of an Online Travel Booking System

Decision Maker: Chief Executive

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

Currently the council uses paper-based travel warrants that are issued from a physical travel warrant book and require an automated online service which allows for the purchase of train tickets and hotels.

 

Paper based travel warrants have many disadvantages & inefficiencies including;

  • SCC often have to re-issue paper travel warrants because service users have lost or not received them?.
  • Royal Mail ?often strike or lose mailed warrants. Strikes have had an impact causing social workers to hand deliver them?.

 

 It is also open to potential Service User fraud including:?

 

  • Selling the travel warrant on for cash - ID not required when exchanging the travel warrant for a ticket at a rail station?
  • Changing the destination on the travel warrant?
  • Upgrading to first class?

 

Rail Station Ticket Offices are currently planned to be closed in stations so service users will not be able to redeem travel warrants for train tickets?. As a solution, the council plan to use an online travel booking system for rail, hotel and flight bookings.

 

CCS offer online travel solution framework agreements that meet our requirements?. Other local authorities are already using online travel solutions, so they are tried and tested?.

 

Decision:

It was AGREED that a contract is awarded to Clarity Travel limited under the Crown Commercial Services Travel and Venue Solutions RM6217.

 

Reasons for the decision:

Following a review of the market and available procurement frameworks it has been demonstrated that the award of a new contract to Clarity Travel limited under the Crown Commercial Service Travel and Venue Solutions RM6217 framework represents value in terms of price and quality.

Alternative options considered:

Details are contained within the Procurement Report

 

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None.

Publication date: 09/02/2024

Date of decision: 31/01/2024