Award

TOXICOLOGY SERVICE for HM CORONER for SUFFOLK

SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

31 Mar 2026 at 09:20

Tender

06 Jan 2026 at 14:26

Planning

18 Nov 2025 at 08:53

Summary of the contracting process

Suffolk County Council has successfully completed the procurement process for the delivery of Toxicology services for HM Coroner in Suffolk. The contract, valued at £750,000, will span from 6th July 2026 to 5th July 2029, with the possibility of a 24-month extension. The procurement method employed was an open procedure with a light touch regime, underlining its accessibility, and the award has been granted to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The service will involve pathology services aimed at analysing postmortem toxicology samples. Suffolk County Council, based in Ipswich, is a public authority operating under sub-central government classification, indicating its compliance with public procurement legislation. The tender process concluded in March 2026, following a standstill period extending to 13th April 2026.

This tender opens significant opportunities for businesses specialising in pathology services, particularly those with a focus on toxicology and postmortem analysis. Companies with expertise in laboratory services could benefit from similar future opportunities as these procurement processes not only support business growth but also facilitate long-term collaborations with public authorities. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can particularly find these ventures lucrative, given the contract's value and potential extensions. Organisations engaged in frameworks or with relevant accreditations such as ISO 15189 are well-positioned to compete, ensuring their offerings align with the stringent quality and technical requirements laid out by Suffolk County Council. The engagement with Suffolk's devolution and local government reorganisation further highlights the adaptability needed from potential suppliers, with risks and opportunities presented by geographical and structural changes within the council's operations.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

TOXICOLOGY SERVICE for HM CORONER for SUFFOLK

Notice Description

HM Coroner for Suffolk required 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. The contract value shown in this notice is the maximum value over the life of the contract (including the extension period). The actual contract value is dependent on the volume of work undertaken.

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/029461-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Mar 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
3 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
28 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
26 Mar 20264 weeks ago
Contract Period
5 Jul 2026 - 5 Jul 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
2029-01-06

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SHEFFIELD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05e2e8-2026-03-31T10:20:58+01:00",
    "date": "2026-03-31T10:20:58+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05e2e8",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PHVH-1657-HHMV",
            "name": "Suffolk County Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PHVH-1657-HHMV"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road",
                "locality": "Ipswich",
                "postalCode": "IP1 2BX",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKH14"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "Procurementbusinesssupport@suffolk.gov.uk",
                "name": "Rachael Dann"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-NHS-RHQ",
            "name": "SHEFFIELD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-NHS",
                "id": "RHQ"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PYZV-3517-VQCJ"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road",
                "locality": "Sheffield",
                "postalCode": "S10 2JF",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKE32"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "simon.beal@nhs.net"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.sth.co.uk/",
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PHVH-1657-HHMV",
        "name": "Suffolk County Council"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "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",
                "dueDate": "2025-11-28T23:59:59Z",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "074592-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074592-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-11-18T08:53:52Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "PA0032",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "TOXICOLOGY SERVICE for HM CORONER for SUFFOLK",
        "description": "HM Coroner for Suffolk required 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. The contract value shown in this notice is the maximum value over the life of the contract (including the extension period). The actual contract value is dependent on the volume of work undertaken.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85111800",
                        "description": "Pathology services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85111810",
                        "description": "Blood analysis services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85111820",
                        "description": "Bacteriological analysis services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKH14",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKH14",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 750000,
            "amount": 750000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-07-06T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2029-07-05T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2031-07-05T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "complete",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 750000,
                    "amount": 750000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Quality",
                            "description": "Full details are available within the tender documents.",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 60,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "cost",
                            "name": "Cost",
                            "description": "Full details are available within the tender documents.",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 40,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "selectionCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "technical",
                            "description": "Accreditation to ISO 15189 or equivalent is mandatory."
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "The contract could be extended for 24 months."
                }
            }
        ],
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "specialRegime": [
            "lightTouch"
        ],
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "submissionMethodDetails": "All future tender documents will be available on Suffolk County Council E- tendering portal: http://www.suffolksourcing.uk/",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-02-03T11:00:00Z"
        },
        "enquiryPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-01-19T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-03-27T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            },
            {
                "id": "000706-2026",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000706-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-01-06T14:26:19Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "hasRecurrence": true,
        "recurrence": {
            "dates": [
                {
                    "startDate": "2029-01-06T23:59:59Z"
                }
            ]
        },
        "riskDetails": "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 Interested Parties should refer to the Invitation to Tender and Contract Terms for the Known Risks: Contract novation, transfer or disaggregation to one or more Successor Authorities or the MCAA within the current geographical boundary of Suffolk. Contract novation, transfer or disaggregation to one or more Successor Authorities or the MCAA outside the current geographical boundary of Suffolk."
    },
    "language": "en",
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "measure": "bids",
                "value": 7,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "measure": "finalStageBids",
                "value": 7,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "3",
                "measure": "smeFinalStageBids",
                "value": 3,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "4",
                "measure": "vcseFinalStageBids",
                "value": 0,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "title": "TOXICOLOGY SERVICE for HM CORONER for SUFFOLK",
            "status": "pending",
            "date": "2026-03-26T00:00:00Z",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 750000,
                "amount": 750000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-NHS-RHQ",
                    "name": "SHEFFIELD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "85111800",
                            "description": "Pathology services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UKH14",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "standstillPeriod": {
                "endDate": "2026-04-13T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-07-06T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2029-07-05T23:59:59+01:00",
                "maxExtentDate": "2031-07-05T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "hasRenewal": true,
            "renewal": {
                "description": "The contract can be extended by up to 24 months."
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "029461-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029461-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-03-31T10:20:58+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "assessmentSummariesDateSent": "2026-03-26T00:00:00Z",
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-05-06T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}