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Pathologist Recruitment Services

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Jun 2026 at 10:23

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Kent County Council is currently in the planning stage for a tender titled "Pathologist Recruitment Services" under the industry category of recruitment and pathology services. The procurement process is aimed at commissioning pathologist resources to conduct post-mortem examinations within NHS mortuaries across Kent and Medway. Relevant to businesses in the public authority sub-central government sector, this procurement is considered a light-touch approach and falls above the threshold with an estimated gross value of £800,000. The key date to note is the due date for the Market Engagement Questionnaire, which is scheduled for 30th July 2026. The planned contract period is set to start on 1st April 2027, running until 31st March 2028. The engagement process is initiated to understand market capability and is taking place in Maidstone, UK.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for recruitment agencies specialising in health and pathology services to expand their business with public sector clients. Businesses with expertise in providing qualified and accredited pathologists are particularly well-suited to compete, given the specific requirement to supply professionals capable of undertaking post-mortem examinations. As this is a pre-procurement market engagement, it offers a prime opportunity for interested businesses to influence the future procurement approach and demonstrate their capacity to deliver the specialised services required. Participating in the engagement exercise can position businesses favourably for the anticipated official procurement competition.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Pathologist Recruitment Services

Notice Description

Kent County Council (KCC) commissions pathologist resource to undertake post-mortem examinations within NHS mortuaries across Kent and Medway, primarily via recruitment providers. This is commissioned on a session basis. Purpose of Engagement Kent and Medway Coroner Service is undertaking pre-procurement market engagement (in accordance with S16 of the Procurement Act 2023) to understand market capability, capacity and delivery models for the provision of suitably qualified and accredited pathologists. The Coroners Service is considering a future procurement for a service to supply suitably qualified and accredited pathologists to undertake post-mortem examinations within NHS mortuaries across Kent and Medway. This may result in a future procurement process. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Maidstone:-Recruitment-services./S8Q8868X6X To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/S8Q8868X6X

Planning Information

All interested parties are invited to complete the Council's Market Engagement Questionnaire. All responses to this questionnaire should be submitted via the Kent Business Portal. All questionnaire responses will be treated as ‘commercial in confidence’. Please note that participation (or non-participation) in this engagement will confer no advantage or disadvantage during any future procurement processes. Participation in this Market Engagement exercise is not a pre-requisite to participate during any future procurement stage (if applicable). This questionnaire does not form part of any procurement procedure assessment or application.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06bfe0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061128-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

79600000 - Recruitment services

85111800 - Pathology services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Jun 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Jul 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 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
KENT 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
MAIDSTONE
Postcode
ME14 1XQ
Post Town
Rochester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ45 Mid Kent
Delivery Location
TLJ4 Kent
Local Authority
Maidstone
Electoral Ward
Penenden Heath
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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