Scope
Reference
PA0032
Description
HM Coroner for Suffolk requires a provider for Toxicology samples taken at Postmortem examinations to be analysed by a professional specialist laboratory service to help enable a cause of death to be determined.
Total value (estimated)
- £750,000 excluding VAT
- £750,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 6 July 2026 to 5 July 2029
- Possible extension to 5 July 2031
- 5 years
Description of possible extension:
The contract could be extended for 24 months.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85111800 - Pathology services
- 85111810 - Blood analysis services
- 85111820 - Bacteriological analysis services
Contract locations
- UKH14 - Suffolk
Participation
Technical ability conditions of participation
Accreditation to ISO 15189 or equivalent is mandatory.
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
19 January 2026, 11:59pm
Tender submission deadline
3 February 2026, 11:00am
Submission address and any special instructions
All future tender documents will be available on Suffolk County Council E- tendering portal:
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
27 March 2026
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 6 January 2029
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Full details are available within the tender documents. |
Quality | 60% |
| Cost | Full details are available within the tender documents. |
Cost | 40% |
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
Suffolk County Council has joined the government's Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), a fast-track programme towards devolution and local government reorganisation.
Under the DPP it is proposed that:
a) a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) for Norfolk and Suffolk is established, with strategic powers and headed by an elected mayor ("Devolution").
b) the existing two-tier council structure in Suffolk is abolished and replaced with one or more unitary councils covering the current geographical boundary of Suffolk ("LGR").
It is possible that both, one or neither of these changes will happen. These changes are declared as known risks as we do not yet know the implications of Devolution and/or LGR.
As a result of LGR and Devolution, contract modifications may be necessary to novate, transfer or disaggregate the contract from the one you entered into to one or more successor authorities or the MCAA. Impacts could include changes to geographical boundaries, significant increases and/or decreases in the goods and/or services required due to the change in size/scope of any successor authority or the MCAA. This may also change the scope of the contract
Interested Parties should refer to the Invitation to Tender and Contract Terms for the Known Risks:
Contract novation, transfer or disaggregation to one or more Successor Authorities or the MCAA within the current geographical boundary of Suffolk.
Contract novation, transfer or disaggregation to one or more Successor Authorities or the MCAA outside the current geographical boundary of Suffolk.
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authority
Suffolk County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHVH-1657-HHMV
Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road
Ipswich
IP1 2BX
United Kingdom
Contact name: Rachael Dann
Region: UKH14 - Suffolk
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government