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CP2771-26 - Coroners Service Body Transportation

DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

10 Aug 2026 at 10:00

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Devon County Council is in the planning stage of a procurement process for a Coroners Service Body Transportation contract, aiming to unify services across the Devon Coroner jurisdiction into a single contract. The procurement is anticipated to cover the areas of Exeter, Greater Plymouth, and Torbay and South Devon, ensuring 24/7 service provision throughout the year. An online pre-market engagement exercise has been scheduled for 8 September 2026 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm via Microsoft Teams, offering potential suppliers an opportunity to learn about the procurement details and partake in discussions. The total contract value is estimated at £24 million, with the contract period expected from 1 June 2027 to 31 May 2029, with a maximum extension until 2031. This opportunity is classified under the industry categories of medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and funeral-related services.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses within the funeral services and medical equipment sectors, particularly those capable of providing comprehensive, round-the-clock transportation services for deceased persons. The requirement for a resilient and dignified service operation opens possibilities for businesses that specialise in logistics and related services. The procurement process is deemed suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), encouraging a diverse range of suppliers to participate. The successful bidder will benefit from establishing or expanding their footprint within the public sector, gaining potential long-term collaboration opportunities with local authorities and expanding their service offerings across Devon.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

CP2771-26 - Coroners Service Body Transportation

Notice Description

Devon County Council intends to procure a county-wide Coroners Service Body Transportation Service across the Devon Coroner jurisdiction. The service will include the collection and transportation of deceased persons on behalf of HM Coroner from locations within the community to designated mortuaries, body storage facilities, funeral directors, or other approved destinations. The service will also include transportation between mortuaries and the transfer of deceased persons to specialist facilities outside the area where required, such as for specialist post-mortem examinations. The contract is expected to cover the Devon Coroner area, including Exeter, Greater Plymouth, and Torbay and South Devon, providing a resilient, professional, and dignified service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Planning Information

Devon County Council is undertaking a pre-market engagement exercise in relation to the future procurement of a Coroners Service Body Transportation contract. The new service model is being developed to create a consistent and aligned approach across the Devon Coroner jurisdiction, bringing together current arrangements into a single county-wide contract. Providers are invited to attend an information event where the Council will share its commissioning intentions, proposed service model, procurement approach, and indicative timescales. The event will also provide an opportunity for suppliers to ask questions and provide feedback that may help inform the final procurement strategy and service specification. The event will be held online via Microsoft Teams on 8 September 2026 from 10:30am to 12:00pm. Providers wishing to attend should register their interest by emailing oliver.reed@devon.gov.uk. A Microsoft Teams invitation will then be issued.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dfd3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075604-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

33000000 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

98370000 - Funeral and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Aug 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
17 Nov 20264 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2027 - 31 May 2029 2-3 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
DEVON 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
EXETER
Postcode
EX2 4QD
Post Town
Exeter
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
TLK4 Devon
Local Authority
Exeter
Electoral Ward
Newtown and St Leonard's
Westminster Constituency
Exeter

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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