Planning

Forensic and Non-Forensic Pathology and Mortuary Services

CROWN OFFICE AND PROCURATOR FISCAL SERVICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

20 Apr 2020 at 00:00

Summary of the contracting process

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is initiating a procurement process for Forensic and Non-Forensic Pathology and Mortuary Services, located in Scotland. The procurement is currently in the planning stage, with a total contract value of £56 million. A Contract Notice is expected to be issued in the coming weeks, while the deadline for submitting the related questionnaire is set for 12 noon on 1st May 2020. The services will be split into four lots covering various regions of Scotland, with additional market engagement planned. Interested parties can expect further information by 25th May 2020.

This procurement offers significant opportunities for businesses involved in the provision of pathology and mortuary services. Companies that offer services such as post-mortem examinations, histopathology, and suitable mortuary facilities would be well-suited to participate. Subcontractors may also have advantageous roles in facilitating these services, making this contract a compelling opportunity for both large organisations and specialists within the health and safety sector.

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Notice Title

Forensic and Non-Forensic Pathology and Mortuary Services

Notice Description

The Lord Advocate, through the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has responsibility in Scotland for the prosecution of crime in Scotland and the investigation of sudden or suspicious deaths which require further investigation. As part of the process of investigating deaths, the Procurator Fiscal may, in order to establish the cause and mechanism of death, instruct post-mortem examinations at specified mortuaries. The intention is to issue a Contract Notice for these services in the coming weeks. The purpose of this PIN Notice is to carry out a market engagement exercise to provide information to the market and to gather market intelligence from organisations that can deliver these services to inform the creation of the tender documents and support the tender process. The aim is to give contractors as much notice as possible to allow them to start thinking about their plans for delivering the services and to prepare for the tender process. It is intended to award a five year contract with potential for a further up to two year extension.

Lot Information

Lot 1 - North Region

The Crown Office seek to procure the provision of pathology and mortuary services required by the Crown for deaths requiring further investigation across Scotland. The initial intention is to split the procurement into four lots covering: Lot 1 - North region (covering the local authority areas of: Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire; Angus; Highland; Moray; Orkney Islands; Perth and Kinross; and the Shetland Islands). Lot 2 - West region (covering the local authority areas of: Argyll & Bute; Dumfries and Galloway; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Renfrewshire; Eilean Siar; Glasgow City; Inverclyde; North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Renfrewshire; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; and West Dunbartonshire. Lot 3 - East region (covering the local authority areas of: Clackmannanshire; City of Edinburgh; Dundee City; East Lothian; Falkirk; Fife; Midlothian; Scottish Borders; Stirling and West Lothian. Lot 4 - All Lots (covering all 32 local authority areas) The intention is to allow the contractors to bid for one or more than one (including all) lots. It is anticipated that the services required for each of the areas will include: post mortem examinations (one and two doctor post mortems examinations), minimally invasive post mortems, histopathology, neuropathology, microbiology, virology, bacteriology, radiology and the provision of body storage. These services will be required for both adult and paediatric pathology. There may also be a requirement for post mortem imaging but this has yet to be decided. In addition the Service provider will be expected to provide suitable mortuary facilities (whether themselves or through sub-contracting arrangements) and mortuary staff and equipment to facilitate the provision of the post mortem investigations. The intention was to hold supplier engagement events to allow pre-procurement market engagement. However, in view of the current restrictions due to Covid-19, the aim of this notice is to give some information to the suppliers on COPFS's current plans for the timing of the procurement process as well as the design of the service. This will give service providers as much time as possible to prepare for any tender to be issued and also to allow service providers to feed back on the proposals by completing a questionnaire. The questionnaire should be uploaded onto the portal by 1 May 2020 at 12 noon.

Lot 2 - West Region

The Crown Office seek to procure the provision of pathology and mortuary services required by the Crown for deaths requiring further investigation across Scotland. The initial intention is to split the procurement into four lots covering: Lot 1 - North region (covering the local authority areas of: Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire; Angus; Highland; Moray; Orkney Islands; Perth and Kinross; and the Shetland Islands). Lot 2 - West region (covering the local authority areas of: Argyll & Bute; Dumfries and Galloway; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Renfrewshire; Eilean Siar; Glasgow City; Inverclyde; North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Renfrewshire; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; and West Dunbartonshire. Lot 3 - East region (covering the local authority areas of: Clackmannanshire; City of Edinburgh; Dundee City; East Lothian; Falkirk; Fife; Midlothian; Scottish Borders; Stirling and West Lothian. Lot 4 - All Lots (covering all 32 local authority areas) The intention is to allow the contractors to bid for one or more than one (including all) lots. It is anticipated that the services required for each of the areas will include: post mortem examinations (one and two doctor post mortems examinations), minimally invasive post mortems, histopathology, neuropathology, microbiology, virology, bacteriology, radiology and the provision of body storage. These services will be required for both adult and paediatric pathology. There may also be a requirement for post mortem imaging but this has yet to be decided. In addition the Service provider will be expected to provide suitable mortuary facilities (whether themselves or through sub-contracting arrangements) and mortuary staff and equipment to facilitate the provision of the post mortem investigations. The intention was to hold supplier engagement events to allow pre-procurement market engagement. However, in view of the current restrictions due to Covid-19, the aim of this notice is to give some information to the suppliers on COPFS's current plans for the timing of the procurement process as well as the design of the service. This will give service providers as much time as possible to prepare for any tender to be issued and also to allow service providers to feed back on the proposals by completing a questionnaire. The questionnaire should be uploaded onto the portal by 1 May 2020 at 12 noon.

Lot 3 - East Region

The Crown Office seek to procure the provision of pathology and mortuary services required by the Crown for deaths requiring further investigation across Scotland. The initial intention is to split the procurement into four lots covering: Lot 1 - North region (covering the local authority areas of: Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire; Angus; Highland; Moray; Orkney Islands; Perth and Kinross; and the Shetland Islands). Lot 2 - West region (covering the local authority areas of: Argyll & Bute; Dumfries and Galloway; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Renfrewshire; Eilean Siar; Glasgow City; Inverclyde; North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Renfrewshire; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; and West Dunbartonshire. Lot 3 - East region (covering the local authority areas of: Clackmannanshire; City of Edinburgh; Dundee City; East Lothian; Falkirk; Fife; Midlothian; Scottish Borders; Stirling and West Lothian. Lot 4 - All Lots (covering all 32 local authority areas) The intention is to allow the contractors to bid for one or more than one (including all) lots. It is anticipated that the services required for each of the areas will include: post mortem examinations (one and two doctor post mortems examinations), minimally invasive post mortems, histopathology, neuropathology, microbiology, virology, bacteriology, radiology and the provision of body storage. These services will be required for both adult and paediatric pathology. There may also be a requirement for post mortem imaging but this has yet to be decided. In addition the Service provider will be expected to provide suitable mortuary facilities (whether themselves or through sub-contracting arrangements) and mortuary staff and equipment to facilitate the provision of the post mortem investigations. The intention was to hold supplier engagement events to allow pre-procurement market engagement. However, in view of the current restrictions due to Covid-19, the aim of this notice is to give some information to the suppliers on COPFS's current plans for the timing of the procurement process as well as the design of the service. This will give service providers as much time as possible to prepare for any tender to be issued and also to allow service providers to feed back on the proposals by completing a questionnaire. The questionnaire should be uploaded onto the portal by 1 May 2020 at 12 noon.

Lot 4 - All Local Authority Areas

The Crown Office seek to procure the provision of pathology and mortuary services required by the Crown for deaths requiring further investigation across Scotland. The initial intention is to split the procurement into four lots covering: Lot 1 - North region (covering the local authority areas of: Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire; Angus; Highland; Moray; Orkney Islands; Perth and Kinross; and the Shetland Islands). Lot 2 - West region (covering the local authority areas of: Argyll & Bute; Dumfries and Galloway; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Renfrewshire; Eilean Siar; Glasgow City; Inverclyde; North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Renfrewshire; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; and West Dunbartonshire. Lot 3 - East region (covering the local authority areas of: Clackmannanshire; City of Edinburgh; Dundee City; East Lothian; Falkirk; Fife; Midlothian; Scottish Borders; Stirling and West Lothian. Lot 4 - All Lots (covering all 32 local authority areas) The intention is to allow the contractors to bid for one or more than one (including all) lots. It is anticipated that the services required for each of the areas will include: post mortem examinations (one and two doctor post mortems examinations), minimally invasive post mortems, histopathology, neuropathology, microbiology, virology, bacteriology, radiology and the provision of body storage. These services will be required for both adult and paediatric pathology. There may also be a requirement for post mortem imaging but this has yet to be decided. In addition the Service provider will be expected to provide suitable mortuary facilities (whether themselves or through sub-contracting arrangements) and mortuary staff and equipment to facilitate the provision of the post mortem investigations. The intention was to hold supplier engagement events to allow pre-procurement market engagement. However, in view of the current restrictions due to Covid-19, the aim of this notice is to give some information to the suppliers on COPFS's current plans for the timing of the procurement process as well as the design of the service. This will give service providers as much time as possible to prepare for any tender to be issued and also to allow service providers to feed back on the proposals by completing a questionnaire. The questionnaire should be uploaded onto the portal by 1 May 2020 at 12 noon.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000620189
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR385664
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F1 - Prior Information 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

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85111800 - Pathology services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£56,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Apr 20205 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
25 May 2020Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CROWN OFFICE AND PROCURATOR FISCAL SERVICE
Contact Name
Audrey Cameron, Anderson Strathern LLP on behalf on COPFS
Contact Email
audrey.cameron@andersonstrathern.co.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1412426060

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH1 1LA
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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    "description": "The initial plan was to hold three supplier engagement events to allow pre-procurement market engagement. However due to the constraints as a result of Covid -19 we are inviting contractors to provide feedback, using the questionnaire provided. Your completed questionnaire should be submitted no later than 12 noon on the 1May 2020. The prior information notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-procurement market engagement and does not constitute any commitment to undertake any procurement in the future. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to the PIN and a response to this PIN does not guarantee any invitation to participate in this event or any future procurement. This PIN does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, supplies or works mentioned in this PIN and the Contracting Authority will not accept any proposals offered in response to this PIN. COPFS is not liable for any costs, fees, or expenses incurred by any party in replying to the PIN or completing the questionnaire. Anderson Strathern LLP are undertaking the procurement on behalf of COPFS who are the Contracting Authority and all enquiries should be directed to the contact detailed at Section I.1). NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=620189. (SC Ref:620189)",
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