Decision details

Award of Contract - Mortuary and Post-Mortem Services OKD37 (20/21)

Decision Maker: Director of Communities

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The council currently has contracts with 2 NHS Trusts who run our Mortuary and Post Mortem Services. Both contracts will expire on 22 January 2021 and there is no provision for further extensions.

 

       WSHT - Western Sussex Hospital Trust (covers approx. 75% of requirement)

       SASH - Surrey and Sussex Health Trust (covers approx. 25% of requirement)

 

The council ran a procurement in 2018/19 with a vision of having a dedicated Mortuary – 100% of bodies to go into one location and a vision of moving away from traditional post-mortems, towards digital non-invasive methods. However, the Council only received one bid which was deemed unaffordable. The bid was later withdrawn and therefore the procurement process was abandoned.

 

The Cabinet Member for Adults and Health has since agreed the commencement of a procurement that will secure ongoing contracts for the Mortuary and Post-Mortem services from January 2021 (Report ref: AH06 20/21).  The Director of Communities will now be asked to award the contracts following the procurement exercise.

 

Decision:

The Director of Communities has approved the award of contract for Mortuary and Post-Mortem services to Western Sussex Hospital Trust for a period of 3 years, with the option to extend by two further 2-year periods up to a maximum of 7 years from 23rd January 2021, with a 6 months break clause.

 

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None.

Publication date: 07/10/2020

Date of decision: 07/10/2020

Effective from: 19/10/2020

Accompanying Documents: