Parliamentarians spent 2.06 million on travel in the first nine months of 2022
MADRID, 3 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Senate has awarded for 5,390,000 euros the contract for the management and technical assistance of trips and visits of its members for this year and the following, an agreement that may be extended three times annually, until December 31, 2027. Each year, including extensions, will cost 2,695,000 euros.
The Board of the Upper House has chosen Viajes El Corte Inglés for this service among the three companies that submitted offers, as published on Tuesday by the Official State Gazette (BOE).
The selected agency, which already obtained the previous contract, awarded in December 2018, achieved the same service for the Congress of Deputies in July 2022 and for 23.3 million.
In the supporting report, to which Europa Press has had access, the Senate specifies that the budget is “exclusively indicative”, since it depends on the final expenditure made by the Chamber in terms of its management needs and technical assistance in travel.
In the same way, the Senate indicates that the economic offer cannot be reviewed during the initial term of the contract or, if any, in any extensions. If extended until 2027, the amount could reach 16,170,000 euros, VAT included.
In 2022, the cost of traveling by senators charged to the budget of the Upper House amounted to 2,069,327.02 euros during the first nine months of the year, which means 574,000 euros, almost 40% more than in 2021. those heights, when there were still restrictions due to the pandemic and even limited capacity.
The contract in question consists of managing the reservation, issuance, modification, cancellation where appropriate, and delivery of tickets, accommodation and vehicle rental, which are necessary for the trips and stays that, for reasons of service, the senators make and the staff of the Chamber.
In addition, it includes any type of service typical of a travel agency, such as taking the necessary steps to obtain visas when they are necessary when traveling.
Additionally, the Senate will be able to organize with the winning company the national displacements of the senators, although these transfers within the country may also be contracted by the institution in a manner unrelated to the winning company, it details.
The Senate may also entrust the successful bidder with the management of organizing visits, meetings, congresses, conferences and other events of similar characteristics, always with a prior budget presented by the travel agency, according to the specifications.
For this type of event, the Senate may entrust the company with the reservation and contracting of catering services and the search for spaces to host events, as well as hostess services, organization of tourist tours, technical services and others that may be necessary. to meet the schedule.
Among the requirements of the Chamber to award this contract is that the company agrees to offer the most advantageous rates for each trip and by any means of transport, depending on the dates, times or characteristics of the passenger.
As a general rule, trips will be made, “if possible”, on flights, lines or routes that have the status of regular, direct routes (without stops), and with an electronic ticket.
The company also has to commit to apply the discounts or improvements that may be applied by the agreements or conventions that the Senate has signed or signs with companies, companies or entities dedicated to transportation and/or hospitality.
The clauses establish that the agency must deal directly with the hotels without the intervention of a mediator, since in “no case” may expenses for the intermediation of third parties in the reservation or payment of hotels be charged to the Senate budget.
Likewise, the agency will have to pay for the contracted services, including hotels, in advance, in order to make it easier for the delegations to present the voucher upon arrival as proof of payment and without the need to make a disbursement.
