CBC-1701-T-TH Removal and Storage of the Deceased from the Community (Conveyancing contract)

Contract summary

Industry

• Autopsy body boards - 33923200

• Cadaver transport and storage equipment and supplies - 33940000

• Body transport containers - 33949000

Show additional CPV codes for this notice

• Funeral and related services - 98370000

• Funeral services - 98371000

• Cemetery services and cremation services - 98371100

• Cremation services - 98371120

Location of contract

SG17 5TQ

Value of contract

£0

Procurement reference

IT-33-4164-CBC-1701-T-TH

Published date

8 July 2024

Closing date

30 August 2024

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

1 December 2024

Contract end date

30 November 2025

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (below threshold)

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

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Description

The coronial jurisdiction of Bedfordshire and Luton dealt with 1946 referrals in 2023 which represented 34.9% of the total deaths registered across Bedfordshire and Luton that year. The coronial jurisdiction of Bedfordshire and Luton includes one Hospital Trust (Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) which is located across two sites, Bedford Hospital in Bedford, and the Luton & Dunstable Hospital in Luton. The jurisdiction also has one Category B Prison, and three Registration Districts.
A total of 422 of the total referrals received during 2023 required the deceased to be collected from the community on behalf of HM Coroner. 62% were immediately conveyed to hospital mortuary (139 to Bedford Hospital and 120 to the Luton & Dunstable Hospital), with 38% conveyed to the current supplier's premises. The Authority wishes to appoint a supplier, or suppliers, to undertake the following work from the 1st December 2024.
o Transport from the community direct to hospital
o Transport from the community to the suppliers own premises for storage
o Conveyance of deceased between sites when required

It is envisaged that many of these will not need a post-mortem, and therefore only transport and storage will be required to the supplier's premises. However, for some of the deceased, they may be transported directly to the hospital and subsequently stored there. In a smaller number of cases, a deceased might be transported to the supplier premises, but it subsequently be agreed that a post-mortem is required. In these cases, the supplier will be requested to transport the deceased to the hospital.
The contract may also require additional transfer of bodies between hospitals and partner sites both within and outside the county boundaries. Where possible, the Coroner Service will ensure that requests are made to transport several deceased at the same time to minimise individual journeys. We have asked suppliers to provide prices for this.
Whilst there is no expectation that freezer storage be provided, we have included a line in the pricing structure as this would make the storage premises HTA compliant.
The expectation is that a minimum of 14 spaces would be provided per geographical area.
In the event of a catastrophe or mass fatality incident, the supplier will be required
to undertake supporting activities such as removing deceased or body parts from the disaster site, and/or temporary mortuary. In these circumstances, the supplier would be acting, albeit under Coronial instruction, according to the Death Management Plan, and will be funded in accordance with this.

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More information

Links

• https://in-tendhost.co.uk/centralbedfordshire/aspx/
• Additional information on how to apply for this contract

Additional text

Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No

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About the buyer

Contact name

Tracey Horner

Address

Priory House
Chicksands
Bedfordshire
SG17 5TQ
United Kingdom

Telephone

0300 300 8000

Email

tracey.horner2@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk