Repatriation Services · UK public procurement notice

This Notice is to highlight a virtual preliminary market engagement event taking place via a Microsoft Teams call on Wed 3 Jun 2026 to share details of and gain industry views of the MOD’s Repatriation Services requirement. If you are interested in joining the call please send an email to [email protected] by 17:00 on Fri 29 May.

Background - The Ministry of Defence has an enduring requirement for worldwide repatriation services, on an individual or multiple basis, for deceased Armed Forces and other entitled personnel. These services may include the provision of specialist services in the event of a major incident resulting in mass fatalities where the Authority is either required to lead the response to the incident or provide assistance. Due to the nature of the requirement, it is not possible to predict how frequently the contractor will be called upon to provide the services.

The Contractor must provide a 365 day/24 hour worldwide repatriation service. The Contractor will be responsible for ensuring the services carried out conform to medical and legal requirements; the preparation of the body which may include embalming, facial reconstruction and dressing; provision of coffins and shrouds; and preparation and marking of the coffin for movement and arrangement of transport (note: Civil flights will only be used where RAF flights are not available). The Contractor will be required to send staff into theatres of military operations in order to effect repatriations where there is no local funeral infrastructure and, in the event of a major incident, be able to provide suitable personnel and be responsible for their security in any operational/conflict zone worldwide, overseas location or, exceptionally, in the UK. The Contractor may be required to provide a Mortuary Assistant for an in-Theatre Mortuary.

In the event of a major incident, the Contractor may be required to provide any or all of the following emergency services: deploy a Major Incident Specialist to the MODs Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) to assist in planning; provide Incident Management at the scene; recovery of remains; establish, operate and maintain an incident mortuary (which may include identification and processing of remains) or a body holding provision; assist the Services / local authorities with handling personal effects at the scene under Service supervision; liaise with all agencies; crisis intervention services and critical incident stress management; recovery of deceased bodies or remains; supply, transportation and support maintenance of suitable body storage units in theatre with appropriate mortuary assistants; deal with contaminated/infectious and Bio Hazard issues which need careful handling in order to comply with current and future health and safety regulations; body/body part identification which could include (though not be limited to) providing a Forensic Pathologist, Forensic Odontologist, Forensic Print Specialist, Forensic Photographer, Mortuary Assistant and Embalmer. The Contractor may also be requested to assist the appointed Pathologist in identification. This list is not exhaustive and other situations can arise, which may require special handling.

The Contractor must be a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors or equivalent.

There have been on average 9 repatriations to the UK or country of origin per year over the last three years; however, due to the nature of the requirement, exact numbers are unknown and could be higher or lower in the future. The figure for the past three years is provided for guidance purposes only and there have been occasions where 150 repatriations have occurred in a 12 month period. To date, specialist services due to a major incident have not been required, although this is no indication of potential future requirements.

The contractor will be requested to undertake tasks as required on a call off basis. No business whatsoever is guaranteed under any resulting framework agreement or contract, indeed there is no guarantee that any framework agreement or contract will be put in place.