---
title: "The Select Provider List for HM Coroner Removals, Transport & Storage"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0601fb"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0601fb"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0601fb.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0601fb.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-03-26"
---

# The Select Provider List for HM Coroner Removals, Transport & Storage

Buyer: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0601fb

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## Summary

Durham County Council initiated a public procurement process titled "The Select Provider List for HM Coroner Removals, Transport & Storage," aimed at forming a list of providers for post-mortem services, including body removal, transport, and storage within County Durham and Darlington. Although initially active, the process was cancelled by the council on 25th March 2026, after the conclusion of the tender period on 9th February 2026. The procurement intended to engage multiple providers, allowing bids for one, two, or all three service lots within the funeral services category, under an open procedure. The procurement, valued at £3.6 million gross, involved specific regions including Easington, Durham City, Chester le Street, Derwentside, Wear Valley, Teesdale, Sedgefield, and Darlington. The initial plans included contracts running until 31st December 2029, with possible renewals.

The tender aimed to create opportunities for businesses involved in funeral and related services, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) capable of offering efficient logistics and storage solutions for post-mortem operations. Although the process is now cancelled, businesses in related sectors should keep a lookout for future procurement opportunities from the Council. The open agreement structure allowed flexibility, whereby suitable providers could bid at any time, fostering competitive growth. The procurement's cancellation underscores the importance for businesses to remain adaptable and responsive to changing conditions and regulations, providing further opportunities when these services are re-tendered.

## Notice

The Council wishes to develop a Select Provider List for HM Coroner Removals, Transport and Storage. This opportunity is primarily for the removal and transport of the deceased from the place of death, within the boundaries of County Durham and Darlington, to one of the following nominated mortuaries: * Darlington Memorial Hospital * University Hospital of North Durham * Newcastle Freeman Hospital There may also be a requirement of body storage should the above mortuaries exceed capacity. Providers will be asked if they are able to offer storage (in line with paragraph 2.1 - Lot 3 of the specification) at the request of the Senior Coroner. Durham County Council is seeking multiple Providers who can deliver the service(s) specified and the Select Provider List has THREE Lots (each Lot is divided into sub-lots relating to geographical areas) as detailed below based on category required. Bidders can apply for one, two, or all three lots. The Select Provider List is an open agreement where, at any time, any Provider that meets the required standards in the Selection Questionnaire can bid. However, should the Council deem there be sufficient providers to meet need then the Select Provider List may be closed and re-opened as required. The Council has the discretion to open and close selected Lots and not all Lots should it choose to. However, at the discretion of the Council, the Select Provider List may remain closed should commissioners deem there be sufficient members to meet demand. The Council makes no guarantee to any Provider that they will be awarded any work under this Select Provider List and no guarantee is made in respect of any volume of work under any such agreement, or in aggregate under the contract. The Contract provides for no form of exclusivity and the Council is at all times entitled to enter into other contracts and agreements with other Providers for the provision of any of these Services. Each Provider should understand that their submission constitutes an acceptance to the Council of the terms of the Contract. The contract affords the Provider merely the opportunity to respond to an invitation from the Council for the provision of services.

### Lot Information

Body Removal

Lot 1 Area 1 Easington Lot 1 Area 2 Durham City Lot 1 Area 3 Chester le Street Lot 1 Area 4 Derwentside Lot 1 Area 5 Wear Valley Lot 1 Area 6 Teesdale Lot 1 Area 7 Sedgefield Lot 1 Area 8 Darlington

Options: The Council reserve the right to modify the specification: * If new legislation and/or guidance regarding the Removal, Transport and/or Storage of the Deceased is published by the governing bodies / relevant organisations. * Designated Hospital Mortuaries may change as to what is detailed in Appendix 2 - Contract Areas Designated Mortuaries within the 3A Specification. * Usage may increase/decrease subject to demand.

Renewal: 3 periods of 24 months each subject to commissioner and budget approval.

Body Transport

Lot 2 Area 1 Easington Lot 2 Area 2 Durham City Lot 2 Area 3 Chester le Street Lot 2 Area 4 Derwentside Lot 2 Area 5 Wear Valley Lot 2 Area 6 Teesdale Lot 2 Area 7 Sedgefield Lot 2 Area 8 Darlington

Options: The Council reserve the right to modify the specification: * If new legislation and/or guidance regarding the Removal, Transport and/or Storage of the Deceased is published by the governing bodies / relevant organisations. * Designated Hospital Mortuaries may change as to what is detailed in Appendix 2 - Contract Areas Designated Mortuaries within the 3A Specification. * Usage may increase/decrease subject to demand.

Renewal: 3 periods of 24 months each subject to commissioner and budget approval.

Body Storage

Lot 3 Area 1 Easington Lot 3 Area 2 Durham City Lot 3 Area 3 Chester le Street Lot 3 Area 4 Derwentside Lot 3 Area 5 Wear Valley Lot 3 Area 6 Teesdale Lot 3 Area 7 Sedgefield Lot 3 Area 8 Darlington

Options: The Council reserve the right to modify the specification: * If new legislation and/or guidance regarding the Removal, Transport and/or Storage of the Deceased is published by the governing bodies / relevant organisations. * Designated Hospital Mortuaries may change as to what is detailed in Appendix 2 - Contract Areas Designated Mortuaries within the 3A Specification. * Usage may increase/decrease subject to demand.

Renewal: 3 periods of 24 months each subject to commissioner and budget approval.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027671-2026 |
| Notice type | UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 26 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 9 Feb 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 10 Feb 2026 - 31 Dec 2029 |
| Recurrence | 2035-08-01 |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £3,000,000 |
| Lots value | £3,000,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Cancelled |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Additional buyers | Missing |
| Locality | DURHAM |
| Post town | Durham |
| Postcode | DH1 5WB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear |
| ITL 3 | TLC41 Durham |
| Local authority | County Durham |
| Electoral ward | Framwellgate and Newton Hall |
| Westminster constituency | City of Durham |
| Delivery location | TLC13 Darlington, TLC14 Durham |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 98370000 - Funeral and related services

## Release History

- 26 Mar 2026 at 09:29 - TenderCancellation - UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027671-2026
- 8 Jan 2026 at 14:34 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001510-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027671-2026
  26th March 2026 - Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001510-2026
  8th January 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.open-uk.org/
  Tender Documents for HM Coroner Removals, Transport & Storage Select List can be accessed free of charge at www.open-uk.org using reference - OPEN20251669

## Notice URLs

- http://www.durham.gov.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.open-uk.org
- https://www.open-uk.orgusingreferenceOPEN20251669TheSelectProviderListisanopenagreementwhere,atanytime,anyProviderthatmeetstherequiredstandardsintheSelectionQuestionnairecanbid.However,shouldtheCouncildeemtherebesufficientproviderstomeetneedthentheSelectProviderListmaybeclosedandre-openedasrequired.TheCouncilhasthediscretiontoopenandcloseselectedLotsandnotallLotsshoulditchooseto.However,atthediscretionoftheCouncil,theSelectProviderListmayremainclosedshouldcommissionersdeemtherebesufficientmemberstomeetdemand.TheCouncilmakesnoguaranteetoanyProviderthattheywillbeawardedanyworkunderthisSelectProviderListandnoguaranteeismadeinrespectofanyvolumeofworkunderanysuchagreement,orinaggregateunderthecontract.TheContractprovidesfornoformofexclusivityandtheCouncilisatalltimesentitledtoenterintoothercontractsandagreementswithotherProvidersfortheprovisionofanyoftheseServices.EachProvidershouldunderstandthattheirsubmissionconstitutesanacceptancetotheCouncilofthetermsoftheContract.ThecontractaffordstheProvidermerelytheopportunitytorespondtoaninvitationfromtheCouncilfortheprovisionofservices.

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0601fb. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0601fb.json.