Delivery of Community Funerals - Funeral Director Services

Portsmouth City Council, "the Council", is inviting tenders from suitably qualified funeral directors, ''the Supplier'' to deliver funeral and burial services.

Under Section 46 of the Public Health Act 1984 Local Authorities have a statutory duty to make arrangements for the disposal of a deceased's body if it appears to the local Council that no suitable arrangements have been made.

Agencies such as the Coroner's Office and the National Health Service will notify the Council whenever they are unable to find any relatives who are willing and able to arrange a funeral for a deceased person. In the event that there is no-one able or willing to organise a funeral Councils have a duty to instruct a funeral director to make all necessary arrangements for a funeral service and burial.

The Supplier will be responsible upon instruction for the collection of the deceased's body from the Queen Alexandra Hospital mortuary or from another identified location within Portsmouth or the surrounding area, and for arranging the funeral, providing a suitable coffin, vehicle and adequate staff on the day of the funeral. All deceased bodies will be buried unless otherwise instructed by the Council.

The Council is targeting to have awarded the contract by 23rd August 2022 with a subsequent commencement date of 1st October 2022.

The initial Contract period will be for 3 years with possibility of extending the term by a further 4 years to a maximum total term of 7 years in increments to be agreed, subject to the agreement and performance of both parties.

The estimated value of the contract is £60,000 to £65,000 per annum based on the last 7-years average. The Council gives no guarantee or warranty or makes any representation as to the accuracy of any indicative volumes or as to the value of the work during the contract period.

The procurement process will be undertaken in line with the following programme:

• Issue FTS Contract Notice - 9 June 2022
• Issue Invitation to Tender - 9 June 2022
• ITT Return Deadline - 15 July 2022 at midday
• Standstill period - 13 August 2022 - 22 August 2022
• Contract Award - 23 August 2022
• Service Commencement - 1 October 2022

Application is via completed tender submission by the deadline stated above via the Council's e-sourcing system InTend which will be used to administrate the procurement process, the system can be accessed free of charge via the web link below:

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home