Official UK procurement notice
The Select Provider List for HM Coroner Removals, Transport & Storage
Authority: Durham County Council (Local council)
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe 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.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Aug 2035, 23:59 BST.
CPV: Funeral and related services
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · all with a published value (£3,000,000 together)Lot #1Body RemovalAwardedRenewalPublished value£1,250,000
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
Lot #2Body TransportAwardedRenewalPublished value£1,250,000
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
Lot #3Body StorageAwardedRenewalPublished value£500,000
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
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Cancelled
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 1 Aug 2035
- First published
- 8 Jan 2026, 14:34 GMT
- Last source update
- 26 Mar 2026, 09:29 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 10 Feb 2026
- Authority reference
001291- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-001510- Latest notice
- Procurement termination notice (UK12)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0601fbFind a Tender
- Risks
Permitted changes that may occur
Designated Hospital Mortuaries may change as to what is detailed in Appendix 2 - Contract Areas Designated Mortuaries within the 3A Specification.
Coronial geographical area responsibility may change.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 9 Feb 2026, 10:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
www.open-uk.org ↗ using reference OPEN20251669
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.
Timeline
8 Jan 2026 → 26 Mar 2026 · 5 dates- Tender notice published289 days ago8 Jan 2026, 14:34 GMT
- Submission deadline257 days ago9 Feb 2026, 10:00 GMT
- Contract starts257 days ago10 Feb 2026
- Award decision expected by256 days ago10 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Latest notice published213 days ago26 Mar 2026, 09:29 GMT
Notice history
3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 8 Jan 2026- Tender notice published8 Jan 2026, 14:34 GMTUK4
- Procurement termination notice published26 Mar 2026, 09:29 GMTUK12
- Status changed to complete26 Mar 2026, 09:29 GMT
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across several lots1 award | |||
| supplier not published | — | 25 Mar 2026 | CancelledDurham County Council has taken the decision to cancel this procurement process. |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications Tender Documents for HM Coroner Removals, Transport & Storage Select List can be accessed free of charge at www.open-uk.org using reference - OPEN20251669
Notices published for this procedure
- Procurement termination notice Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender