VA seeks another e-travel services provider

The Veterans Affairs Department seeks a provider for nationwide online travel services as an alternative to the integrated electronic travel system used by VA under the General Services Administration eTravel initiative.

The contract will handle all financial, management and administrative products and services, both current and emerging, which support official government travel and travel-related expenses, and streamline travel and travel payment systems, VA said in its request for proposals posted last week.

VA currently uses multiple providers for travel services, but the principal contract provides for the services of World Wide Travel of Little Rock, Ark., and Omega World Travel of Fairfax, Va. That contract will expire March 31, 2006. VA also has contracts with EDS Corp. of Plano, Texas, in partnership with Zegato Solutions of Lanham, Md., under GSA's eTravel initiative and Zegato for full travel services.

VA plans to acquire future travel services from a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business contractor to eventually replace the travel management component of all three contracts.

The contract is for a six-month base from April through September 2006 plus three option years. Offers are due Jan. 12, 2006.

Mary Mosquera is a staff writer for Washington Technology's sister publication, Government Computer News.