Context
The IPU is the global organization of parliaments of sovereign States established in 1889. It serves as the focal point for worldwide parliamentary dialogue and works for peace and cooperation with regional inter-parliamentary organizations, as well as with international, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations which uphold the same ideals.
Its main goals may be summarized through the following topics:
- Representative democracy
- Women in politics
- International peace and security
- Promoting human rights
- Sustainable development
- Cooperation with the United Nations
The IPU currently has 179 Member Parliaments and 13 Associated Members; they provide 70 per cent of its funds. The IPU’s Headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland while it operates an Office of the Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York. Accordingly, most of its employees are based in Geneva, with the remaining collaborators in New York. Within the context of its work, the IPU seeks to hire a travel agent to service travel requirements for its Assemblies, which take place at least once a year in a different location (e.g. the past Assemblies have taken place in Belgrade, Doha and St Petersburg), as well as for the official travel needs of its staff. IPU travel takes place in most regions of the world and amounted to approximately CHF 0.6 million in 2019.
Objectives
The purpose of this RFP is to select and conclude an agreement with a specialized Travel Management Company (TMC) to obtain the most competitive, qualified, responsive and high-quality service, representing the best value for money, for all the IPU’s travel service requirements which includes air and railway ticketing, airport and railway station transfer, hotel reservation, visa services, travel insurance and related services (travel insurance on lost luggage etc.) regularly required by the IPU. This entails the assignment of the most experienced personnel and management to provide the IPU with a travel programme that represents cutting-edge technology, processes and systems for the benefit of its travellers.