Award

Travel Management Services

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

18 Mar 2026 at 13:30

Tender

13 May 2025 at 15:04

Planning

06 Mar 2025 at 16:15

Summary of the contracting process

The University of Edinburgh, located in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, is undertaking a procurement process for comprehensive Travel Management Services. The procurement aims to support business and student group travel while achieving sustainability goals by reducing carbon emissions related to travel. The procurement involves various service categories, including air, rail, and accommodation bookings, for both domestic and international travel. The process follows the open procedure under the legal basis 32014L0024 (CELEX) and is covered by the GPA, ensuring transparency and fairness. The procurement has reached the award stage, with contracts signed on 23 February 2026 and involving notable suppliers such as Key Travel. This initiative highlights the University’s commitment to improving travel safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. The latest tender stage completed on 18 March 2026, looking ahead to supporting the University’s educational and research missions globally.

This procurement process presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses experienced in travel management and logistic services. The comprehensive nature of the travel services contract, spanning business and student travel, calls for innovative solutions to manage complex travel arrangements efficiently. Companies capable of developing integrated platforms with robust booking, account management, and reporting capabilities will find this tender particularly rewarding. Furthermore, businesses aiming to enhance sustainable practices in travel, given the focus on carbon emission reduction, will align well with the University of Edinburgh’s objectives. This tender provides a valuable opportunity for enterprises to showcase their technical prowess and cost efficiency while aiding a prestigious educational institution in fulfilling both practical and environmental objectives.

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How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Travel Management Services

Notice Description

The University of Edinburgh is awarding a comprehensive Travel Management Services contract to cover all Business and Student Group Travel. Many of our students and staff travel as part of their studies, research, or to develop important connections across the UK and internationally. We are committed to supporting our community to do so as safely and efficiently as possible. At the same time, we remain steadfast in achieving our ambitious sustainability goals, which include reducing carbon emissions related to travel. As transport costs increase worldwide, this service will support our work to safeguard our community, reduce University expenditure, and provide high-quality data for carbon and travel reporting. The University has included buffers within the value to account solely for potential increases in travel volumes or rising costs to mitigate future contract modifications. The anticipated contract value is not a commitment or a guaranteed level of spend. Potential fluctuations in travel demand, internal policy changes and external factors may result in lower spending.

Lot Information

Business Travel Services

The contract period is 3 years, with the option to extend for an additional 4 x 1 year. The core requirement of this project is to develop an integrated travel management platform that handles a variety of travel-related services. - Online and offline booking capabilities. - Rail travel (including cross-channel rail services). - Air travel (domestic, European, and international). - Accommodation bookings (domestic, European, and international). - Dedicated Account Management, Online and Offline teams who will serve as the direct contacts. The need for a robust travel management system is driven by the complexity of travel arrangements, sustainability targets, enhanced duty of care, improved user experience and driving financial and administrative efficiencies. The objectives and goals of the UoE Sustainable Travel Policy are threefold: 1. Delivering on ambitious sustainability goals by reducing carbon emissions related to business travel and providing high-quality data for carbon and travel reporting. 2. Supporting the University's duty of care for staff and students, particularly those travelling overseas, ensuring their safety and well-being. 3. Providing value for money by improving cost efficiency and streamlining the administration of reimbursements within the University's large, complex organisational structure. Lot Description Lot 1 - Business Travel Services - This lot provides Members with access to a fully managed service for all UK and International travel and associated services. The Member will be able to research and book using an online tool and/or via offline booking channels using a traditional call centre/agent type operation (on the lowest cost non-Premium Line telephone number). This lot will cover UK and International Air, Rail, and Hotel services; Ferry services; Eurostar; International Vehicle Hire; Visa services; and relevant professional advice to all clients.

Renewal: Total contract length: 3 years / 36 months Contract start date: 1st February 2026 Contract end date: 31st January 2029 Any extensions: 4 x 12-month optional extensions

Student Group Travel Services

The contract period is 3 years, with the option to extend for an additional 4 x 1 year. The core requirement of this project is to develop an integrated travel management platform that handles a variety of travel-related services. - Online and offline booking capabilities. - Rail travel (including cross-channel rail services). - Air travel (domestic, European, and international). - Accommodation bookings (domestic, European, and international). - Dedicated Account Management, Online and Offline teams who will serve as the direct contacts. The need for a robust travel management system is driven by the complexity of travel arrangements, sustainability targets, enhanced duty of care, improved user experience and driving financial and administrative efficiencies. The objectives and goals of the UoE Sustainable Travel Policy are threefold: 1. Delivering on ambitious sustainability goals by reducing carbon emissions related to business travel and providing high-quality data for carbon and travel reporting. 2. Supporting the University's duty of care for staff and students, particularly those travelling overseas, ensuring their safety and well-being. 3. Providing value for money by improving cost efficiency and streamlining the administration of reimbursements within the University's large, complex organisational structure. Lot Description Lot 2 - Student Group Travel Services - This lot covers UK and International Air, Rail and Hotel / Hostel services; Ferry services; Eurostar; International Vehicle Hire; Group Travel services; and relevant professional advice to Members for student group travel.

Renewal: Total contract length: 3 years / 36 months Contract start date: 1st February 2026 Contract end date: 31st January 2029 Any extensions: 4 x 12-month optional extensions

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04ea39
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024607-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services


CPV Codes

63516000 - Travel management services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£98,765,430 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Mar 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
27 Jun 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
30 Mar 2025Expired
Award Date
23 Feb 20262 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH1 1HT
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

KEY TRAVEL

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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