The Provision of Travel Management Services

This tender covers the provision of a managed travel service for the purpose of booking all rail and air travel tickets, all hotel accommodation and other requirements related to business travel. The Manchester Growth Company have a requirement for both domestic (within the boundaries of the United Kingdom) and overseas travel (Europe and worldwide) and the intention of this contract is to standardise and control the procurement of corporate travel across the group as currently travel spend is managed separately by each business unit. The contract is for a 1 year period with an option to extend for 2 further 1 year periods.

Additional information: OJEU Contract Notice reference for this opportunity is 2016/S 057-096371

The Manchester Growth Company (MGC) is a group of companies whose purpose is to drive forward Greater Manchester's economic development. MGC is accountable to the GM Combined Authority (GMCA) and the GM Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The MGC is an economic development strategy-driven and commercially-focussed organisation which reinvests any surpluses to achieve its aims. MGC deliver a wide range of business and people-facing services across the North of England and the East Midlands. These include:

Business start-up, business growth, inward investment, business finance, and international trade services; Skills training for individuals and businesses; Organisational development services; Recruitment and employment services; Careers advice and guidance; Policy, strategy and research; Official Tourist Board for the Manchester city region; Marketing and Communication Services: The MGC is made up of the following companies: Economic Solutions Limited t/a Manchester Growth Company/MGC; Marketing Manchester (including Visit Manchester); GM Business Support Limited t/a GM Business Support; ChamberLink Limited t/a Business Support Solutions; The North West Apprenticeship Company Limited t/a NWAC; Challenge 4 Change Limited t/a Challenge 4 Change Trading Limited; IDG t/a Improvement Development Growth Limited; CfA t/a Centre for Assessment Limited; IQC2 Limited t/a IQC2 Limited; The Skills Company; The Work Company t/a Skills and Work Solutions Limited; Employment and Regeneration Partnership Limited; The Enterprise Fund Limited t/a BFS or Business Finance Solutions; BFS Funding Managers Limited; BFS NWF General Partner Limited; NWF (Micro Loans) LP. In addition the following companies are to be included in the agreement and are deemed to be MGC Group companies for its purposes: Manchester Investment and Development Agency Service Limited t/a MIDAS; Commission for the New Economy Limited t/a New Economy.

Funding of MGC comes in part from public funding streams, e.g. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The delivery of support under such funding agreements requires MGC to comply with public procurement guidelines. As a result this tender is designed to enable companies within the group under these obligations to demonstrate compliance with these guidelines and ensure value for money.