Multi-level, Mass Fatalities Body Storage capability

After an initial request for information activity the Authority seek to further determine market potential and consider market views for a multi-level, Mass Fatalities Body Storage capability with a view to ensure such views are considered for any potential procurement that the Authorities may wish to launch.

The current position is that in the event of an incident resulting in a large number of fatalities that could overwhelm the usual body storage capacity of the relevant local authority, they may call upon the body storage capacity of neighbouring authorities under existing mutual aid arrangements.

In addition, the authority may also draw upon the Home Office-provided ‘mass fatalities’ capability. At present these are steel ISO body storage units, provided on a regional basis across the country (covering the nine regions of England, plus Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) with specified local authorities being responsible for the oversight of these units within their region. There are approximately 45 such units, with each region or devolved administration being allocated between 3 or 4 units each. With a body storage capacity of 16 persons per unit (expandable to 20), this equates to a total body storage capacity of approximately 600 persons in England (expandable to 720). In the devolved administrations, the body storage capacity is 64 person (expandable to 80). Thus, although the mass fatalities body storage capability is intended to be available nationally, it is regionally delivered. Hence it is termed ‘Regional Emergency Mortuary Arrangements’ (REMA). However, as the body storage units are now over ten years old, with some units no longer functional and others needing repair, the mass fatalities capability is currently patchy across the country – with some regions having access to a largely functional and fit-for-purpose capability, and other regions discounting the REMA capability altogether and having to make their own alternative arrangements. This is clearly unsatisfactory. Consequently. Home Office are looking to replace the current REMA capability with a bold new alternative.