Award

ESCC Provision of a Toxicology Analysis Service to the Coroner

EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

14 Apr 2026 at 15:46

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

East Sussex County Council has completed the procurement process for the provision of a Toxicology Analysis Service tailored to support the Coroner's investigations. The procurement utilised the Provider Selection Regime for a direct award, bypassing competitive procedures due to its "Below threshold" status. The awarded contract will begin on 17 April 2026, with an initial period extending to 31 March 2029, and potential for a two-year extension at the Council’s discretion. The contract is valued at £350,000, excluding VAT. This service falls under the healthcare services category, specifically pathology and blood analysis, indicating a specialised service requirement.

This opportunity represents a significant contract for providers with expertise in pathology and blood analysis services, particularly useful for organisations aiming to expand their footprint within the healthcare sector. While the direct award limits competitive entry this time, subsequent contracts might offer new openings, particularly for businesses capable of delivering precise, professional, post-mortem toxicology analysis. Suppliers with advanced capabilities in pathology will find such fixed-term contracts beneficial for sustained revenue growth and increased visibility in public sector engagements, especially in regions like East Sussex. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, the current supplier, demonstrates the specialist nature of the work suited for larger healthcare institutions.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

ESCC Provision of a Toxicology Analysis Service to the Coroner

Notice Description

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. East Sussex County Council are intending to award a new contract to an existing provider following the Provider Selection Regime Direct Award C for the delivery of a Toxicology Analysis Service to the Coroner on post-mortem samples, and for the provision of professional witnesses at Coroner's inquests (as required). The contract duration will be for an initial period of three (3) years, with option to extend for a period of up to 24 months at the Council's discretion, commencing April 2026. The total contract value (including the extension) is PS350,000 (excluding VAT). The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to amy.wilkinson@eastsussex.gov.uk by midnight of the 24th April 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06825a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033931-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85111800 - Pathology services

85111810 - Blood analysis services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£350,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
16 Apr 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
EAST SUSSEX 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
LEWES
Postcode
BN7 1UE
Post Town
Brighton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ22 East Sussex CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Lewes
Electoral Ward
Lewes Priory
Westminster Constituency
Lewes

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS SUSSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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