Fairfax, Va., October 31, 2005 – Travel management
provider Omega World Travel is questioning the controversial award of
a Wisconsin state contract and is calling for full public disclosure of
the findings of the investigating committee.
Recent news reports have brought to light unanswered questions and several
facts that were not originally made known to Omega World Travel. Specifically
that Omega World Travel won the bid on points, but was not awarded the
contract. Omega World Travel wants to set the record straight on recent
inaccuracies in the media.
Media reports have claimed that the awarded travel agency offers the best
value in travel services.
The contract was not bid on price alone; cost only represented 25% of
the total score. There were many other factors considered by the evaluating
committee including programs, services, quality, and the best ‘fit’
for client needs; the heaviest point scores were awarded to servicing
criteria—areas where Omega World Travel was clearly superior in
their bid.
Omega World Travel offers many inclusive services at no cost, which was
not reported, while the awarded travel agency’s bid was based on
menu-pricing, which can lead to additional hidden costs.
The state’s own figures showed less than an $8,000 annual difference
between Omega World Travel’s bid and the awarded travel agency’s
bid on the $4.3 million contract.
Omega World Travel has been portrayed as an outsider because their corporate
headquarters are out-of-state.
Omega World Travel maintains a strong presence in Wisconsin with over
80 employees living and working in the state. All state business under
this contract would have remained in the state, if awarded to Omega World
Travel, doing business in the state since 1987 and a member of the Wisconsin
Business Travel Association, the state chapter of Meeting Professionals
International, the local Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Milwaukee Convention
and Visitors Bureau.
Media reports claim the contract award was based on a fair bid process.
The evaluating committee was very meticulous and fair in the handling
of the bid process, and the outcome of the process—both in points
and by the recommendation of 6 of the 7 committee members—was to
award the contract to Omega World Travel. Omega World Travel was the clear
and recommended winner of the contract by the committee, but despite their
recommendation, the award went to another travel agency.
At-this-time, Omega World Travel has not been contacted by any official
representing the State of Wisconsin or any other government branch to
explain the discrepancies.
Based on the information that has been publicly reported, and the clear
inaccuracies in the bid process, Omega World Travel is calling for a re-evaluation
of the bid and that a new contract be awarded based on the original recommendation
of the committee.
About Omega World Travel
Omega World Travel (www.owt.net) is ranked
by Business Travel News as the third largest travel management organization
in the U.S., and provides online travel solutions—as well as personalized
service at their Greenfield, Wis., office—to a diverse clientele:
from individual leisure travelers to Fortune 500 companies and the federal
government. From humble beginnings as a small business launched in 1972,
Omega World Travel now boasts annual sales revenues in excess of $1 billion,
over 1400 employees, and is one of the largest diversity-owned businesses
in the country—founded and headed by President and CEO Gloria Bohan.
Omega World Travel owns TravTech (www.travtech.com), a travel technology
organization, and Cruise.com, the Internet’s largest cruise specialist. |