Exhibit 1 - Agenda Information SheetCity of Denton
City Hall
215 E. McKinney Street
Denton, Texas
www.cityofdenton.com
AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET
DEPARTMENT: Procurement & Compliance
CFO: Antonio Puente, Jr.
DATE: July 21, 2020
SUBJECT
Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, a Texas home-rule municipal corporation,
authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Collette Travel Services, Inc., for professional
group travel booking of recreational extended trips offered through Parks and Recreation; providing for
the expenditure of funds therefor; and providing an effective date (RFP 7277 – awarded to Collette
Travel Services, Inc., for one (1) year, with the option for four (4) additional one (1) year extensions, in the
total five (5) year not-to-exceed amount of $800,000).
INFORMATION/BACKGROUND
The Parks and Recreation Department’s Denton Senior Center has organized and offered annual and bi-annual
trips as part of its programming for the past 23 years. Trips are 8-10 days long with 40-50 participants in each
trip. Past trips were primarily bus tours. Feedback from participants showed trips of this kind were too long for
the mode of transportation being used and many indicated a desire for a variety of travel options that included
shorter trips over extended weekends, cruises, and international travel.
Historically, the registration fees paid by the participant covered 100% of the travel costs. Travel companies
provide a comped fare for chaperones based on the number of participants attending. The chaperones usually
consist of one exempt staff and one background checked volunteer. An added percentage to the registration fee
generated and average of $3,000 in revenue which was used to offset administrative costs and chaperone
expenses such as meals. By contracting with Collette Travel Services, Inc., the need to pass on a fee increase
to the participants is reduced as the company pays a commission back to the coordinating entity which will
continue to cover internal expenses.
Parks and Recreation staff will work with the travel agency to set an initial registration deadline and collect
all deposits and cancellation insurance premiums. Once the minimum number of participants is reached,
the trip will be confirmed, and initial fees will be paid to the travel company. If the minimum registration
is not met, the trip will be cancelled, and no funds will be dispersed to the travel agency. Travel protection
will be built into the stated fee for travel as part of the program. Payment of a Per Person Travel Protection
Plan Fee guarantees a full refund of all payments (including deposit), except the Travel Protection Plan Fee
itself, made to the agency for travel arrangements in case of cancellation for any reason prior to the day of
departure.
Parks and Recreation has been working on this bid process for 18 months. This was the third process in
which the department has worked to achieve quality bids. A typical bid process takes approximately 3
months. Realizing that travel is restricted at this time due to COVID-19, Parks and Recreation is
recommending this contract be approved so the procurement process will be complete, and the contract will
be in place when programs resume at the appropriate time.
Requests for Proposals for six (6) sample trips were sent to over 277 prospective suppliers for these
services. In addition, specifications were placed on the Materials Management website for prospective
suppliers to download and advertised in the local newspaper. Suppliers were informed that contracts may
be awarded in sections as necessary to meet the variety of trip options requested. Four (4) bids were
received and evaluated based upon published criteria including compliance with specifications, probable
performance, and price. Based upon this evaluation, a combination of two vendors Collette Tours and
Braxdale Travel were determined to be the best overall value for the City.
Collette Tours ranked highest (1) for their ability to provide a variety of travel options including air travel,
international travel, and cruises with a substantial itinerary and travel perks. However, Collette does not
provide bus tour packages which are necessary to provide a variety of trip options to meet the recreation
and financial needs of senior participants. The selection committee is recommending a separate vendor for
bus tour options.
A BAFO was not requested from suppliers for this contract because all bids were based on sample trips and
will fluctuate based on a variety of factors. It is not possible to give an exact price for trips at this time
because destinations will be selected by popular interest from our members and exact itineraries will be
determined at the time of booking.
The contract recommended not-to-exceed amount of $800,000 is based on estimated pricing of up to 50
participants per trip at approximately $2,000-$5,000 per participant depending on exact travel
destination, itinerary selected, and fluctuation in travel rates.
NIGP Code Used for Solicitation: 961-(Service Only)-Miscellaneous
Services, No. 1 (Not Otherwise Classified)
Notifications sent for Solicitation sent in IonWave: 277
Number of Suppliers that viewed Solicitation in IonWave: 13
HUB-Historically Underutilized Business Invitations sent out: 20
SBE-Small Business Enterprise Invitations sent out: 104
Responses from Solicitation: 4
RECOMMENDATION
Award a one (1) year service contract with the option to renew for up to four (4) additional one-year periods
to Collette Tours for professional booking of international, air, and cruise travel for recreational extended
trips offered through Parks and Recreation in a not-to-exceed amount of $800,000.
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS
Collette Travel Services, Inc.
Pautucket, RI
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE OF PROJECT
This is an initial one (1) year contract with options to extend the contract for four (4) additional one (1) year
periods, with all terms and conditions remaining the same.
FISCAL INFORMATION
These services will be funded from the Recreation Fund by way of program registration fees. The City will
only pay for services rendered and is not obligated to pay full contract amount.
EXHIBITS
Exhibit 1: Agenda Information Sheet
Exhibit 2: Pricing Evaluation
Exhibit 3: Ordinance and Contract
Respectfully submitted:
Lori Hewell, 940-349-7100
Purchasing Manager
For information concerning this acquisition, contact: Megan Thomas, 940-349-7752.
Legal point of contact: Mack Reinwand at 940-349-8333.