GOVERNMENT TRAVELER WEB SITE The following notice is a request for information only. It is not a pre-solicitation notice and firms should not respond by requesting to be placed on a solicitation mailing list. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is considering the establishment of a travel utility -- a web site for federally funded government travelers. A self booking product or products would be utilized to access travel information and book air, hotel, car and train travel. Government travelers could complete all of these travel requirements through the site without travel agent intervention. GSA negotiated supplier rates as well as all non-government rates would be available through the site. The web site utility would be supported by links to ticket fulfillment services such as quality control, ticketing, delivery, etc. GSA designated travel services could offer the fulfillment services. Also, DOT would consider contracting with booking product suppliers and fulfillment suppliers to implement a seamless site for government travel. In the initial period of the contract, a fixed number of transactions would be set aside for a preferred booking product supplier. As volume grows, transactions above the set aside level would be allocated to a second booking product supplier. Periodically, the shares of transactions would be rebid among the booking services to assure that services and features are kept current and cost effective. Fee based fulfillment would be accomplished through GSA contracted travel services, a dedicated contractor(s), a contractor linked to the booking service and/or other mechanisms. All commissions, overrides and other cash or in kind remuneration associated with these transactions would accrue to the federal government. DOT is also exploring new techniques for booking and payment such as direct channels, third party services, and special arrangements with the Airline Reporting Corporation. Further details are available via a concept paper which can be downloaded from the DOT Web site at http://www.itop.dot.gov/itop/ under the selection "Public RFPs". It is anticipated the concept paper will be provided in both .html and .pdf format. Adobe Acrobat Reader software is required to read and print the concept paper in .pdf format. This software is free and can be acquired at http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html. A copy of the concept paper can also be requested by sending an electronic mail message to arnie.linares@ost.dot.gov or by calling Mr. Linares at 202-366-0520. DOT is interested in soliciting ideas, comments, criticisms, and alternatives for the provision of web based travel services for federal travelers from interested parties. Please provide this information (three copies are requested) by November 13, 1998 to Arnie Linares, Department of Transportation, Office of Budget and Programs (B-2), 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Room 10101, Washington D.C. 20590. Posted 10/26/98 (W-SN265218).

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