Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

CONTRACT FOR THE REMOVAL, TRANSPORT & STORAGE FOR DARLINGTON CORONIAL CASES

Durham County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

02 Sep 2026 at 14:44

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Durham County Council commissioned body removal, transportation and temporary storage services for HM Coroner’s cases across County Durham and Darlington. The service covers the dignified and timely removal of deceased persons from places of death, transport to nominated mortuary facilities, and temporary storage when mortuary capacity is exceeded. Work is carried out on behalf of the Council and the coroner for the relevant areas. It is a specialist funeral and related service, classified under CPV 98370000. Delivery spans the County Durham and Darlington areas. Providers must handle sensitive coronial work with respect and care, while meeting the operational requirements associated with deceased-person transfers and temporary storage.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. Durham County Council used a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition, under the light-touch regime. Whitehouse Funeral Service Limited was selected as the supplier. The contract was signed on 28 August 2026 and runs from 1 September 2026 to 30 April 2028. Its value is £200,000 excluding VAT and £240,000 including VAT. Two optional 12-month extensions may be agreed, subject to budget and commissioner approval, giving a maximum possible end date of 30 April 2030. The parties may also modify the contract in circumstances permitted by section 74 of the Procurement Act 2023. The award covers one completed lot.

This award demonstrates demand from Durham County Council for a dependable funeral-services provider able to support coronial operations across County Durham and Darlington. A credible future competitor would need practical capacity for prompt deceased-person removal, secure and appropriate transportation to nominated mortuaries, and temporary storage when facilities reach capacity. It would also need staff able to work sensitively with bereaved people, coroners and public-sector teams, maintaining dignity throughout. Experience of coronial requirements, relevant legislation and professional standards would be central to demonstrating competence. The appointed supplier is an SME, indicating that a specialist independent funeral business with suitable local coverage and operational resilience can serve this requirement. Providers should be able to sustain reliable response arrangements and storage capability for a recurring council service.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

CONTRACT FOR THE REMOVAL, TRANSPORT & STORAGE FOR DARLINGTON CORONIAL CASES

Notice Description

The Council is seeking a provider to deliver body removal, transportation and, where required, temporary storage services on behalf of HM Coroner for Areas of County Durham and Darlington. The service includes the dignified and timely removal of deceased persons from the place of death, transportation to nominated mortuary facilities, and the provision of temporary storage arrangements where mortuary capacity is exceeded. Services must be delivered in accordance with coronial requirements, relevant legislation and professional standards, ensuring respect, sensitivity and care for the deceased at all times.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f076
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083111-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

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
£200,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 30 Apr 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Durham 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
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 5WB
Postcode Area
Durham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate & Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

WHITEHOUSE FUNERAL SERVICE LIMITED

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...