Collection of Deceased and Delivery to Mortuaries for the South London Coroners Service and Public Health Funerals

The London Borough of Croydon will shortly be issuing an Invitation to Tender (ITT) on (insert date) for the following two contracts that will run from the 1st September 2025 to the 31st August 2030: Coroners Body Removals for the South London coroner jurisdiction comprising the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon and Sutton The coroner is a special judge who investigates unnatural or violent deaths, where the cause of death is unknown, or because the death took place in prison, police custody or another type of state detention, such as a mental health hospital. The investigation may include an inquest hearing.

The coroner’s role is to find out who died and how, when and where they died. In some cases, it is necessary to hold a post mortem examination to find out the cause of death.

If the deceased died in the community the body must be transported to the coroner’s mortuary for the post mortem examination, or transferred to a specialist post mortem facility and this contract provides for this service. There are two lots: Lot 1 (West – Croydon and Sutton): to collect deceased in the community, or from hospital and transport to either Croydon University Hospital or Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough.

Lot 2 (East – Bexley and Bromley): to collect deceased in the community, or from hospital and transport to St Helier Hospital, Carshalton, Surrey. The Council will be seeking to appoint a single Funeral Director to make all the necessary arrangements and to provide a dignified funeral in all such cases.

These two contract (3 Lots) will be of interest to suitably experienced Funeral Directors and transportation providers who will have the necessary trained staff, vehicles and equipment to carry out these vital public service functions. Tenderers may apply for 1, 2 or all 3 lots, and may be awarded 1, 2 or all 3 lots. To apply for these contracts, you must have first registered on the council’s e-procurement portal.