Spanish state travel tender suspended following agency appeals

The Central Administrative Tribunal of Contractual Appeals (TACRC) has issued a precautionary measure to suspend a major state travel service tender valued at approximately 605 million euros. The suspension follows appeals filed by travel agency associations, including Gebta, CEAV, and UNAV-FETAVE, against the new bidding terms.

Gebta, which represents 19 of Spain's largest corporate travel agencies, alleges that the tender documents contain serious economic infractions. Specifically, the group claims the terms force agencies to guarantee fixed prices despite market fluctuations and inventory availability, which they argue violates the Public Sector Contracts Law. They also contend that the pricing requirements may not cover actual costs or allow for commercial margins.

As a result of the suspension, current service providers are expected to continue managing travel for ministries and other state administration bodies until a final resolution is reached. The administration had previously granted an extraordinary extension to the existing contract to bridge the gap during the bidding process.