Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann

QBT Pty Ltd has been appointed as the new whole-of-Government travel management services provider for the next four years, with responsibility for about $2.1 billion worth of travel expected to be undertaken across government over that period.

QBT Pty Ltd was awarded the contract after a competitive tendering process conducted by the Department of Finance.

Replacing the current panel arrangement with a single provider will reduce the cost of administration. Modelling undertaken during the procurement process, based on expenditure in 2013-14, suggests that new fees charged for travel management services will be around 3 per cent lower.

Compared to the previous contract, the new single provider arrangement will:

• ensure more consistency in pricing, systems, services and training across departments and agencies;
• consolidate duty of care, security and emergency response services (including internationally) and processes;
• take advantage of technology improvements and increased online booking management to provide savings and efficiencies;
• provide a single source of data; and
• simplify contract management.

Departments and agencies will transition to the new provider immediately and will be fully operational by 1 July 2015.  The arrangement has an initial four year term, with options to extend for a further three years. The contract is valued at approximately $66 million.

QBT Pty Ltd is an Australian owned travel management centre with 30 years of experience delivering specialist business travel management services to corporate and government customers.