--- title: "Funeral Services and Coroners Transportation for the Black Country" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0789d7" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0789d7" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0789d7.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0789d7.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council" published: "2026-10-16" --- # Funeral Services and Coroners Transportation for the Black Country Buyer: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0789d7 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0789d7) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0789d7.json) ## Summary Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council is buying funeral services and coroner transport for the Black Country Coroners Service, covering Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The work is divided between funeral provision in Sandwell and the collection, transport and transfer of deceased people on behalf of the Coroner in each of the four boroughs. Sandwell’s funeral-services requirement includes Public Health Act funerals and the Council’s affordable funeral service. The service supports the councils’ statutory duties and the Coroner’s operational needs. Funeral providers and specialist deceased-person transport operators may find a fit in one or more of these service areas; the lots separate the funeral provision from the geographically defined transport work. The buyer invited tenders through an open procedure. The procurement has reached the tender stage. It is divided into five lots: funeral services in Sandwell, plus coroner transport in Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The estimated total value is £1,588,446 excluding VAT (£1,906,135.20 including VAT). Each lot is assessed on price (70%) and quality (30%). The enquiry deadline was 3 November 2026 at 17:00 UTC, and the tender submission deadline was 10 November 2026 at 12:00 UTC. The intended contract period for every lot is 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2030, with an option to extend by up to 24 months, subject to satisfactory performance and the authority’s discretion. The award decision was scheduled by 16 December 2026. The lots are identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, and suppliers can tender for the area or service that matches their operation. The requirement particularly suits funeral service providers able to deliver Public Health Act funerals and affordable funeral arrangements, and transport operators experienced in collecting, moving and transferring deceased people for coroners. Providers need to demonstrate relevant experience, adequate staffing, vehicles, storage facilities and the operational capacity to maintain service throughout the contract. Delivery must be responsive at all hours, every day of the year. The work also demands high standards of care, dignity, compassion, security, confidentiality and professionalism when handling deceased people. These operational and service-quality capabilities matter alongside price in the stated evaluation. ## Notice Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC), through its Registration Services, acts as the lead authority[MH1.1][MH1.2] for the Black Country Coroners Service. The jurisdiction of the Black Country Coroners Service covers the local authority areas of Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton. To support the delivery of statutory responsibilities relating to Public Health Act Funerals, Affordable Funeral Services and Coroners Transportation Services, SMBC is seeking to appoint suitably qualified Contractor(s) to provide Funeral Services and Coroners Transportation Services across the Black Country area. The successful Contractor(s) will be required to provide a responsive service available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, maintain appropriate staffing, vehicles and storage facilities, and demonstrate the highest standards of care, security, confidentiality and professionalism in the handling and transportation of deceased persons. Tenderers should carefully review the Specification, Contract requirements and all associated procurement documents to ensure they can fully meet the requirements of the Lot(s) for which they intend to submit a tender. Tenderers must be able to demonstrate the necessary experience, resources, facilities, suitably qualified staff and operational capacity to deliver the services throughout the Contract term. This procurement presents an opportunity for suitably experienced organisations to support Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and the Black Country Coroners Service in the delivery of essential Funeral Services and Coroners Transportation Services across the Black Country. The successful Contractor(s) will play a key role in ensuring that services are delivered with professionalism, dignity, compassion and respect, whilst supporting the Council's statutory obligations and the Coroner's service requirements. The Council will be using the In-tend e-Tendering System for this Procurement exercise, please visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/sandwellmbc to access the Sandwell MBC In-tend Supplier Portal. From here you will be able to register your company, express an interest in the opportunity, and gain immediate access to the ITT and other related documents. In Order To View and Submit a Tender, you will be required to' Opt-In'. For a Step by Step user guide to the Sandwell MBC In-tend Supplier Portal please click on the 'Guidance for Suppliers' section of the website. All procurement responses must be carried out via the Sandwell MBC In-tend Supplier Portal. If you require further assistance in respect of the system please contact the In-tend support team on 0844 272 8810. Closing date: Tuesday 10 November 2026 at 15:00hrs. ### Lot Information Lot 1 - Sandwell Funeral Services, Including Public Health Act Funerals and the Council's Affordable Funeral Service for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. Provision of funeral services for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, including Public Health Act funerals and the Council's Affordable Funeral Service, in accordance with the requirements set out in the Specification. Renewal: The Authority may choose to extend the Contract for a period or periods off up to, but not exceeding, a total of twenty-four (24) months beyond the initial four (4) year term. Any extension will be subject to satisfactory performance and exercised at the Authority's sole discretion. Lot 2 - Coroners Transportation for geographic area covering Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. Provision of Coroners Transportation Services for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, including the collection, transportation and transfer of deceased persons on behalf of the Coroner, in accordance with the requirements set out in the Specification. Renewal: The Authority may choose to extend the Contract for a period or periods off up to, but not exceeding, a total of twenty-four (24) months beyond the initial four (4) year term. Any extension will be subject to satisfactory performance and exercised at the Authority's sole discretion. Lot 3 - Coroners Transportation for geographic area covering Services for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council. Provision of Coroners Transportation Services for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, including the collection, transportation and transfer of deceased persons on behalf of the Coroner, in accordance with the requirements set out in the Specification. Renewal: The Authority may choose to extend the Contract for a period or periods off up to, but not exceeding, a total of twenty-four (24) months beyond the initial four (4) year term. Any extension will be subject to satisfactory performance and exercised at the Authority's sole discretion. Lot 4 - Coroners Transportation for geographic area covering Services for Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council. Provision of Coroners Transportation Services within the Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council area, including the collection, transportation and transfer of deceased persons on behalf of the Coroner, in accordance with the Specification. Renewal: The Authority may choose to extend the Contract for a period or periods off up to, but not exceeding, a total of twenty-four (24) months beyond the initial four (4) year term. Any extension will be subject to satisfactory performance and exercised at the Authority's sole discretion. Lot 5 - Coroners Transportation for geographic area covering Services for City of Wolverhampton. Provision of Coroners Transportation Services within the City of Wolverhampton area, including the collection, transportation and transfer of deceased persons on behalf of the Coroner, in accordance with the Specification. Renewal: The Authority may choose to extend the Contract for a period or periods off up to, but not exceeding, a total of twenty-four (24) months beyond the initial four (4) year term. Any extension will be subject to satisfactory performance and exercised at the Authority's sole discretion. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098087-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender 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 | 16 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | 10 Nov 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,588,446 | | Lots value | £1,588,446 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council | | Locality | OLDBURY | | Postcode area | Birmingham | | Postcode | B69 3DE | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands | | ITL 3 | TLG37 Sandwell | | Local authority | Sandwell | | Electoral ward | Oldbury | | Westminster constituency | West Bromwich | | Delivery location | TLG36 Dudley, TLG37 Sandwell, TLG38 Walsall, TLG39 Wolverhampton | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport) - 98 - Other community, social and personal services ### Codes - 60170000 - Hire of passenger transport vehicles with driver - 98370000 - Funeral and related services - 98371000 - Funeral services - 98371120 - Cremation services ## Release History - 16 Oct 2026 at 15:30 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098087-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098087-2026 16th October 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.dudley.gov.uk - http://www.walsall.gov.uk - http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/sandwellmbc - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-0789d7. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0789d7.json.