Planning

CC00202 - Coroner's Removal Service

WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

26 Nov 2025 at 15:27

Summary of the contracting process

Worcestershire County Council has initiated the planning stage for a tender titled "CC00202 - Coroner's Removal Service." This procurement process falls under the services industry category, specifically targeting other community, social, and personal services. The location for this contract is within the region of UKG12 in the United Kingdom. The council's responsibility is to manage sudden, traumatic, or unnatural deaths, which might require the removal of bodies to a mortuary for further investigation. Key dates include a deadline for engagement responses by 19th December 2025. The contract is scheduled to begin on 1st June 2026 and is set to continue until 31st May 2036.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in community and social services, particularly those capable of providing transportation and storage services under sensitive conditions. SMEs and VCSEs are especially encouraged to participate, as this contract can ensure a stable demand for a decade. Companies with capabilities in providing temperature-controlled storage and transportation will find this contract well-suited to their strengths, enabling them to contribute to a critical public service and expand their service portfolio across Worcestershire.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

CC00202 - Coroner's Removal Service

Notice Description

Worcestershire County Council is responsible for providing the Coroner's service in Worcestershire. The Coroner is an Independent Judicial Officer whose costs are met by the Council. Where a death is considered, sudden, traumatic, unnatural the Coroner may have to undertake an investigation. In certain cases, this may result in a post mortem examination being carried out. It is also the Coroner's responsibility to remove bodies from the scene of death to the mortuary, pending an investigation into the death. Cases that require body removal are mainly limited to community deaths as opposed to hospital deaths. Total collections are estimated at 540 per year.

Planning Information

Worcestershire County Council is responsible for providing the Coroner's service in Worcestershire. The Coroner is an Independent Judicial Officer whose costs are met by the Council. Where a death is considered, sudden, traumatic, unnatural the Coroner may have to undertake an investigation. In certain cases, this may result in a post mortem examination being carried out. It is also the Coroner's responsibility to remove bodies from the scene of death to the mortuary, pending an investigation into the death. Cases that require body removal are mainly limited to community deaths as opposed to hospital deaths. There may be instances however, where a deceased may have to be transported to another location if a specialist examination is required. All deaths where the cause of death is not considered natural are referred to the Coroner. There may be deaths that are natural which may have happened more quickly than thought. These are not cases for a Coroner and therefore the family arrangements are proceeded with. The Coroner, Coroner's Office or Police will instruct an undertaker to collect the body and take it to the mortuary. In some cases, the Ambulance Service may request a collection but these should only occur when one of the above criteria is met (sudden, traumatic, unnatural) There will be instances when deaths require removal to another hospital with a mortuary in or out of the County of Worcestershire; such removals will be covered by the terms of this contract. If for any reason the mortuary cannot accept a body immediately it may have to be stored in suitable, temperature-controlled accommodation until such time it can be accepted. The Council will need to satisfy itself as to the adequacy of such accommodation prior to the award of contract. Please answer the questions that can be found on In-Tend https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/worcestershire/aspx/Home and send your response back via email to EMcGhee@worcestershire.gov.uk by 12 noon on Friday 19th December 2025. All responses will be treated as confidential and not shared with other organisations, however, the final specification and tender model may be influenced by this and other stakeholders. Many thanks for taking the time to complete this questionnaire - please ensure you monitor the Council's In-Tend procurement portal to ensure you don't miss future tender opportunities.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e981
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077368-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Nov 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
19 Dec 20252 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2026 - 31 May 2036 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@worcestershire.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
WORCESTER
Postcode
WR5 2NP
Post Town
Worcester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG12 Worcestershire CC
Delivery Location
TLG12 Worcestershire CC

Local Authority
Worcester
Electoral Ward
Nunnery
Westminster Constituency
Worcester

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-05e981-2025-11-26T15:27:46Z",
    "date": "2025-11-26T15:27:46Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05e981",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PRPQ-4584-WLPQ",
            "name": "Worcestershire County Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PRPQ-4584-WLPQ"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "County Hall, Spetchley Road",
                "locality": "Worcester",
                "postalCode": "WR5 2NP",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKG12"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "procurement@worcestershire.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PRPQ-4584-WLPQ",
        "name": "Worcestershire County Council"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Worcestershire County Council is responsible for providing the Coroner's service in Worcestershire. The Coroner is an Independent Judicial Officer whose costs are met by the Council. Where a death is considered, sudden, traumatic, unnatural the Coroner may have to undertake an investigation. In certain cases, this may result in a post mortem examination being carried out. It is also the Coroner's responsibility to remove bodies from the scene of death to the mortuary, pending an investigation into the death. Cases that require body removal are mainly limited to community deaths as opposed to hospital deaths. There may be instances however, where a deceased may have to be transported to another location if a specialist examination is required. All deaths where the cause of death is not considered natural are referred to the Coroner. There may be deaths that are natural which may have happened more quickly than thought. These are not cases for a Coroner and therefore the family arrangements are proceeded with. The Coroner, Coroner's Office or Police will instruct an undertaker to collect the body and take it to the mortuary. In some cases, the Ambulance Service may request a collection but these should only occur when one of the above criteria is met (sudden, traumatic, unnatural) There will be instances when deaths require removal to another hospital with a mortuary in or out of the County of Worcestershire; such removals will be covered by the terms of this contract. If for any reason the mortuary cannot accept a body immediately it may have to be stored in suitable, temperature-controlled accommodation until such time it can be accepted. The Council will need to satisfy itself as to the adequacy of such accommodation prior to the award of contract. Please answer the questions that can be found on In-Tend https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/worcestershire/aspx/Home and send your response back via email to EMcGhee@worcestershire.gov.uk by 12 noon on Friday 19th December 2025. All responses will be treated as confidential and not shared with other organisations, however, the final specification and tender model may be influenced by this and other stakeholders. Many thanks for taking the time to complete this questionnaire - please ensure you monitor the Council's In-Tend procurement portal to ensure you don't miss future tender opportunities.",
                "dueDate": "2025-12-19T23:59:59Z",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "077368-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077368-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-11-26T15:27:46Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "WCC 00005549",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "CC00202 - Coroner's Removal Service",
        "description": "Worcestershire County Council is responsible for providing the Coroner's service in Worcestershire. The Coroner is an Independent Judicial Officer whose costs are met by the Council. Where a death is considered, sudden, traumatic, unnatural the Coroner may have to undertake an investigation. In certain cases, this may result in a post mortem examination being carried out. It is also the Coroner's responsibility to remove bodies from the scene of death to the mortuary, pending an investigation into the death. Cases that require body removal are mainly limited to community deaths as opposed to hospital deaths. Total collections are estimated at 540 per year.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "98000000",
                        "description": "Other community, social and personal services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKG12",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-06-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2036-05-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}