Funeral and related services

Tender description

Portsmouth City Council is inviting tenders from suitably qualified funeral directors 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 authority that no suitable arrangements have been made. The Authority arranges approximately 35 funerals per year and look to appoint one provider who could meet all our requirements. All deceased bodies will be buried unless instructed otherwise. The timing of the funerals will be at the discretion of the Authority and the successful provider will therefore need to be flexible. This contract will start on the 1.4.2017 and will continue until the 31.3.2020 with an option to extend for two further 1 year periods depending on a satisfactory performance. All values are indicative only as the Authority can not guarantee future levels of work required under this contract. The supplier will be required to carry out burials as instructed by the Authority. This will include: — funeral director services and arrangements for the burial (this will include liaison with third parties as necessary — such as partner authorities and friends / family of the deceased), — the collection of the deceased from the Queen Alexandra Hospital mortuary (or other locality as necessary) to the suppliers mortuary, — care of the deceased from point of collection to the funeral, — the provision of a coffin suitable for the purpose of burial — to include a name plate and other necessary furniture, — a glass sided hearse to take the deceased to the cemetery, — all necessary funeral staff and professional liveried pall bearers, — appropriate religious services at the graveside for all burials, — the cemetery fee, — the provision of administrative and financial staff. The supplier will perform in accordance with the ‘Code of Practice’ of the National Association of Funeral Directors.