Tender

Community Deceased Removals

STOKE ON TRENT CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderCancellation

09 Dec 2025 at 11:57

UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Planning

10 Apr 2025 at 20:18

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Stoke on Trent City Council initiated a procurement process titled "Community Deceased Removals" aimed at contracting services for the transportation and storage of community deceased patients taken on behalf of the HM Coroner. Initially in the planning stage, the procurement intended to evaluate market interest as of April 2025, with the location of provision encompassing several regions within the United Kingdom, including UKC, UKD, and UKG, among others. However, as of 9th December 2025, the tender was withdrawn following a market engagement exercise. The services fall under the industry category of "Funeral and related services" and this stage of the procurement was planned to offer a framework agreement covering the period from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2029.

This tender initially presented a potential opportunity for businesses specializing in funeral and related services, especially those capable of offering cost-effective and compliant solutions in line with the 2023 Procurement Act. While the procurement has been cancelled, it highlighted an opportunity for funeral directors who can fulfil strict requirements such as swift response times and the use of purpose-built vehicles. Such opportunities underscore the necessity for businesses to maintain flexibility and readiness to engage in future tenders that might be re-initiated in response to revised procurement strategies. Engaging in such processes can bolster business growth by securing long-term public contracts and enhancing sector reputation.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Community Deceased Removals

Notice Description

The Coroners Service of Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent wishes to establish a contract with supplier(s) to transport and store community deceased patients on behalf of HM Coroner whilst they are awaiting the outcome of the initial investigations and transport for a post mortem where necessary. This function is currently carried out by a number of Funeral Directors within the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire area, however this needs to be reviewed to ensure best value and fair practice as per the Procurement Act 2023. The current contracts cover the following areas: Burton Cannock East Staffordshire Lichfield Newcastle-under-Lyme South Staffordshire Stafford Staffordshire Moorlands Stoke on Trent The Coroners Service of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, have a number of key performance indicators that must be met in order for a contract to be awarded, these are: - A deceased is required to be removed from the specified community area within a 60-minute response time, subject to already being engaged on an existing call. Should this be the case coroners call will be prioritised to the next pending call out. - On arrival to the scene the Funeral Director staff will be suitably attired in anonymous uniform and vehicles that carry fit for purpose equipment to perform task. - The Funeral Directors will be prohibited from any form of solicitation but should they be asked where the deceased is to be taken must be able to state the temporary location prior to coroner's mortuary. - The Funeral Directors will use purpose-built vehicles for the transportation of bodies to and from all locations. These vehicles will be un-liveried and clean. - All deceased will be placed in a single use cadaver bag and identification wristlet place on opposing ankle and wrist. ID details will be Name and Address. - Any next of kin, family and friends present at the time of removal will be provided with coroner's information guide by the Funeral Director. - All deceased transferred from the community must be transferred one deceased at a time, unless: a) Informed to transfer direct to mortuary. b) Collecting deceased from a 3rd party funeral director during business hours enroute to the mortuary as part of daily transfer. c) Multiple fatality. - Any deceased will automatically be transferred to the Funeral Directors until requested by the mortuary for transfer. - The Funeral Directors will then have a maximum of 48hrs to transfer deceased to the specified mortuary when contacted by the Public Mortuary or Coroners Service. If any case is required urgently then this information may be related verbally and the instruction will be prioritised for transfer as soon as possible.

Planning Information

1. INTRODUCTION The Coroners Service of Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent is currently preparing to initiate a procurement process to establish a contract with suppliers to provide to service of transportation and storage of community deceased patients. The potential scale and scope of this service is such that it offers a significant opportunity to bidders. Prior to initiating the procurement, the Coroners Service wishes to establish the level of market interest in participating in the procurement process. 2. BACKGROUND The Coroners Service of Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent wishes to establish a contract with supplier(s) to transport and store community deceased patients on behalf of HM Coroner whilst they are awaiting the outcome of the initial investigations and transport for a post mortem where necessary. This function is currently carried out by a number of Funeral Directors within the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire area, however this needs to be reviewed to ensure best value and fair practice as per the Procurement Act 2023. The current contracts cover the following areas: Burton Cannock East Staffordshire Lichfield Newcastle-under-Lyme South Staffordshire Stafford Staffordshire Moorlands Stoke on Trent The current contracts are due to expire on 31.03.2026 and the Coroners Services wishes to explore the market to ensure the above is being offered. 3. SCALE SCOPE AND NATURE OF REQUIREMENT The Coroners Service of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, have a number of key performance indicators that must be met in order for a contract to be awarded, these are: 3.1 A deceased is required to be removed from the specified community area within a 60-minute response time, subject to already being engaged on an existing call. Should this be the case coroners call will be prioritised to the next pending call out. 3.2 On arrival to the scene the Funeral Director staff will be suitably attired in anonymous uniform and vehicles that carry fit for purpose equipment to perform task. 3.3 The Funeral Directors will be prohibited from any form of solicitation but should they be asked where the deceased is to be taken must be able to state the temporary location prior to coroner's mortuary. 3.4 The Funeral Directors will use purpose-built vehicles for the transportation of bodies to and from all locations. These vehicles will be un-liveried and clean. 3.5 All deceased will be placed in a single use cadaver bag and identification wristlet place on opposing ankle and wrist. ID details will be Name and Address. 3.6 Any next of kin, family and friends present at the time of removal will be provided with coroner's information guide by the Funeral Director. 3.7 All deceased transferred from the community must be transferred one deceased at a time, unless: a) Informed to transfer direct to mortuary. b) Collecting deceased from a 3rd party funeral director during business hours enroute to the mortuary as part of daily transfer. c) Multiple fatality. 3.8 Any deceased will automatically be transferred to the Funeral Directors until requested by the mortuary for transfer. 3.9 The Funeral Directors will then have a maximum of 48hrs to transfer deceased to the specified mortuary when contacted by the Public Mortuary or Coroners Service. If any case is required urgently then this information may be related verbally and the instruction will be prioritised for transfer as soon as possible. 4 Objectives of the Market Engagement Exercise The objectives of this exercise are to: • gain initial supplier awareness, engagement and opinion, • provide confidence around viability of concept; • gain insight to the market possibilities and potential innovative solutions; • understand risks and issues not previously considered; • inform the Outline Business Case; • inform the Procurement Strategy; To express your interest in participating in this market engagement exercise, please email sam.woodward@stoke.gov.uk by 02nd May 2025. A market engagement questionnaire will be issued during the week commencing 06th May 2025. The deadline for submitting completed questionnaires will be confirmed via email when questionnaire issued, and is expected to be either two or three weeks following distribution.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0500e4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081010-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

98370000 - Funeral and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Jun 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Withdrawn
Lots Status
Withdrawn
Awards Status
Cancelled
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
STOKE ON TRENT CITY COUNCIL
Additional Buyers

MISSING

Contact Name
Dasa Kucharkova
Contact Email
dasa.kucharkova@stoke.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
STOKE-ON-TRENT
Postcode
ST4 1HH
Post Town
Stoke-on-Trent
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG23 Stoke-on-Trent
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Stoke-on-Trent
Electoral Ward
Hartshill Park & Stoke
Westminster Constituency
Stoke-on-Trent Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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