Concur Technologies wins $1.4B GSA next-gen fed travel contract

Concur Technologies, a Redmond, Wash., provider of integrated travel and expense management solutions, has won a $1.4 billion, 15-year contract to launch the next generation of the government’s web-based travel management service.

The General Services Administration’s E-gov Travel Service is a cloud-based service used by more than 90 agencies for travel bookings and expense management. It’s the backbone of GSA’s governmentwide managed travel programs. Federal employees can book travel and track spending, approvals and vouchers, according to a June 4 GSA announcement.

The current version of the travel system was launched in April 2002, and officials estimate that it saves the government more than $20 million dollars a year. With the first generation, civilian agencies consolidated more than 250 managed travel systems. GSA’s implementation of the system also increased the government’s use of online travel services by 63 percent, the announcement said.

The new contract, which will be built upon the original service, will help agencies consolidate online travel booking services and expense management platforms to increase efficiency and accountability while saving money, according to the government.

The system will allow GSA to leverage government purchasing power through the analysis of governmentwide travel data.

Steve Singh, chairman and CEO of Concur, said travelers will be able to navigate more easily and optimize travel planning to make smart decisions about cost and sustainability at the point of sale, with its improved usability.

“As the only vendor selected by the GSA to provide a solution to power [E-gov Travel Service], Concur looks forward to supporting the federal government for the next 15 years,” he said in the announcement.

“When you combine GSA’s market expertise with best practices from the private sector, [the travel system] is positioned to transform travel savings and management across the government,” GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Steve Kempf said in the statement.

Under the terms of the contract, Concur Technologies will be able to report on travel planning and reservations, authorizations, ticketing fulfillment, and expense reimbursement.

Agencies will begin deploying the system toward the end of this year.