Tender

TOXICOLOGY SERVICE for HM CORONER for SUFFOLK

SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

06 Jan 2026 at 14:26

Planning

18 Nov 2025 at 08:53

Summary of the contracting process

Suffolk County Council is currently managing a tender process for a "TOXICOLOGY SERVICE for HM CORONER for SUFFOLK", aimed at appointing a laboratory for analysing toxicology samples from postmortem examinations. This is an active procurement process located in the UK's East of England region, specifically Ipswich. The contract, valued at £750,000, is being procured through an open procedure with submissions required in English via the Suffolk County Council e-tendering portal. Interested parties should note that the tender stage, which began on 6th January 2026, is accepting submissions until 3rd February 2026, with the expected award by 27th March 2026.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for laboratories specialising in pathology, blood analysis, and bacteriological analysis services. The contract is particularly suited for businesses that can demonstrate accreditation to ISO 15189 or equivalent, supporting technical expertise to handle such specialised tasks. SMEs are encouraged to apply as the tender has inclusivity provisions for small and medium enterprises. Winning this contract could be pivotal for businesses looking to establish or expand their footprint in governmental supply networks, particularly those familiar with handling county-level public contracts.

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Notice Title

TOXICOLOGY SERVICE for HM CORONER for SUFFOLK

Notice Description

HM Coroner for Suffolk requires a provider for Toxicology samples taken at Postmortem examinations to be analysed by a professional specialist laboratory service to help enable a cause of death to be determined.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The contract could be extended for 24 months.

Planning Information

The Authority wishes to invite interested parties to respond to the following topics: 1. Do you as a supplier have experience of working with other LAs at county level. 2. Are you part of a framework or wider contract that SCC could join? 3. Which regulatory bodies are you a member of? 4. How many samples, per week do you have capacity to test? 5. Please confirm which days of the week you are able to receive samples. 6. Do you use a tracking system to ensure samples are safely received and dispatched? Please note that responses received will be recorded and used to inform and reflect future procurements. This will ensure that any resulting tender pack provides information such that all bidders have the same information and no potential bidder unable to respond is disadvantaged. No sensitive or confidential information will be shared. Interested parties should respond to the questions, along with any comments to Rachael.Dann@suffolk.gov.uk by 5 pm 28th November 2025. You are also advised to ensure you are registered on the Central Digital Platform, or your supplier information record is up to date. Suppliers: How to register your organisation and first administrator on Find a Tender in three easy steps https://shorturl.at/kigPg This notice is intended as an awareness, communication and information gathering exercise. Participation is no indication of a commitment to partake in any future tendering process, nor does it infer any preferential or special status on those individuals and organisations who participate. Please also note that this notice is not intended as a call for competition and as such you will need to express your interest in any future tender opportunity once the tender notice is published. All future tender documents will be available on Suffolk County Council E- tendering portal: http://www.suffolksourcing.uk/ We look forward to your participation and contributions. Suffolk County Council has joined the government's Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), a fast-track programme towards devolution and local government reorganisation. Under the DPP it is proposed that: a) a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) for Norfolk and Suffolk is established, with strategic powers and headed by an elected mayor ("Devolution"). b) the existing two-tier council structure in Suffolk is abolished and replaced with one or more unitary councils covering the current geographical boundary of Suffolk ("LGR"). It is possible that both, one or neither of these changes will happen. These changes are declared as known risks as we do not yet know the implications of Devolution and/or LGR. As a result of LGR and Devolution, contract modifications may be necessary to novate, transfer or disaggregate the contract from the one you entered into to one or more successor authorities or the MCAA. Impacts could include changes to geographical boundaries, significant increases and/or decreases in the goods and/or services required due to the change in size/scope of any successor authority or the MCAA. This may also change the scope of the contract

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e2e8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000706-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85111800 - Pathology services

85111810 - Blood analysis services

85111820 - Bacteriological analysis services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£750,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£750,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
3 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
28 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
5 Jul 2026 - 5 Jul 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
2029-01-06

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Rachael Dann
Contact Email
procurementbusinesssupport@suffolk.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
IPSWICH
Postcode
IP1 2BX
Post Town
Ipswich
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH6 Suffolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH62 Ipswich
Delivery Location
TLH14 Suffolk CC

Local Authority
Ipswich
Electoral Ward
Gipping
Westminster Constituency
Ipswich

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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