Planning

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Caring for the mass deceased

Gloucestershire County Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

30 Jul 2026 at 10:06

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

20 Jul 2026 at 12:11

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

10 Jul 2026 at 12:23

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Gloucestershire County Council is exploring future services for caring for the mass deceased, including support for excess death management and mass fatality response scenarios. The requirement falls within funeral and related services and is intended for delivery across Gloucestershire. The council is seeking to understand what the market can provide, including suppliers’ capability, capacity and any practical limitations when responding to unusually high numbers of deaths. This is a public-sector service requirement rather than a purchase of goods or construction works. The planned service is covered by the lighter-touch regime and is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. Suppliers operating in funeral services, mortuary support, bereavement operations, emergency planning or related response services may therefore find the subject relevant.

This process is at the planning and pre-market engagement stage; it is not an invitation to tender. Gloucestershire County Council expects to use market feedback to shape future service provision. Suppliers are being asked to complete a market engagement questionnaire through the council’s e-sourcing system, SAP Ariba, with responses expected by 16 September 2026 at noon. The response date has been extended from an earlier position. The council currently anticipates a single service arrangement running from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029, with renewal or extension potentially allowing delivery until 31 December 2032. No procurement value or tender procedure has been published. The engagement is intended to test market capability, capacity and limitations before any future competition is designed.

The engagement is most relevant to suppliers that can provide organised funeral or related services during excess-death and mass-fatality situations. Useful preparation would include demonstrating the ability to mobilise quickly, manage increased volumes, coordinate operational resources and maintain service continuity during exceptional circumstances. Experience in mass-fatality response, emergency planning, mortuary or funeral operations, and working with public authorities would help suppliers explain their capability and constraints. The council is specifically seeking market evidence about available capacity and the limitations that could affect future service provision, so respondents should be ready to describe realistic operating models, geographic coverage, workforce and facilities. Small and medium-sized enterprises are considered suitable. Registering on SAP Ariba will be needed to access and complete the questionnaire and receive updates.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Caring for the mass deceased

Notice Description

The council is undertaking this pre-market engagement (PME) exercise to develop a clearer understanding of market capability, capacity and associated limitations in supporting excess death management and mass fatality response scenarios

Planning Information

Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) is inviting suppliers to complete a market engagement questionnaire to help inform future service provision. The questionnaire is available via GCC's e-sourcing system, SAP Ariba. To access and submit your response, you will need to be registered on SAP Ariba. Registering on SAP Ariba will also enable you to: Access any updates relating to this market engagement exercise You can request an invitation to access the market engagement by contacting: commercial.services@gloucestershire.gov.uk Please indicate in your email request if you already have access to the SAP Ariba Business Network

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c870
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072028-2026
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
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

98370000 - Funeral and related services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2029 3-4 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
Gloucestershire 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
GLOUCESTER
Postcode
GL1 2TG
Postcode Area
Gloucester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK73 Gloucestershire CC
Delivery Location
TLK13 Gloucestershire CC
Local Authority
Gloucester
Electoral Ward
Westgate
Westminster Constituency
Gloucester

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.

Loading OCDS record...