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Travel Management Company (TMC) Service

UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX(THE)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

14 Aug 2026 at 16:47

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Sussex procured a travel management company to provide a fully managed business travel and student group travel service. The requirement covers journeys within the UK and internationally, together with associated travel services. This is a travel services contract, including arranging and managing travel for university staff and student groups. Delivery is associated with the University’s activity in Brighton, Falmer and the wider Surrey, East and West Sussex area, while the travel itself may take place across the UK and overseas. The buyer is the University of Sussex, a public university based at Sussex House in Falmer, Brighton. The requirement is relevant to travel management companies able to support organisational travel programmes, student group movements and international itineraries through a managed service.

The procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. It used a limited procedure through a compliant direct award under the SUPC framework, without prior publication of a call for competition. The contract was signed on 6 July 2026 with Key Travel Limited. Its value is £2,700,000. The procurement was evaluated on price. The requirement was structured as one lot, although that lot is recorded as cancelled; the related award is active and the contract is active. The buyer received one bid. The arrangement included an option for one additional 12-month contract extension. The award route was justified as an allowable direct award under the SUPC framework, with the procurement stated to fall outside the relevant directive’s scope.

This award shows sustained institutional demand for a single managed travel service covering both business travel and student group travel, with UK and international reach. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need to manage end-to-end travel arrangements for a university, including complex itineraries, group movements and overseas travel. The successful supplier was a large travel management company, indicating that operational capacity, dependable service delivery and the ability to handle varied travel volumes are important. Experience of public-sector or higher-education travel programmes would strengthen a supplier’s position, as would familiarity with framework-based direct awards and the ability to demonstrate competitive pricing. Providers should be able to support the University of Sussex consistently across its Brighton and Falmer operations and wider travel requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Travel Management Company (TMC) Service

Notice Description

Travel Management Company (TMC) to provide the University with access to a fully managed Business Travel and Student Group Travel service for all UK and International travel and associated services.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Travel Management Company (TMC) to provide the University with access to a fully managed Business Travel and Student Group Travel service for all UK and International travel and associated services.

Options: 1 x 12 month optional contract extension

Procurement Information

This is an allowable, compliant direct award via SUPC framework.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e507
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077843-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

CPV Codes

63515000 - Travel services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£2,700,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Jul 20261 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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX(THE)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
FALMER, BRIGHTON
Postcode
BN1 9RH
Postcode Area
Brighton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ21 Brighton and Hove
Delivery Location
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Local Authority
Brighton and Hove
Electoral Ward
Coldean & Stanmer
Westminster Constituency
Brighton Pavilion

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

KEY TRAVEL LIMITED

Further Information

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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