Indigent Cremations

Weber County Purchasing is soliciting bids for an Indigent Cremation Services contract through Invitation for Bid (ITB) Number 19-113, which was released on April 23, 2019, with proposals due by May 7, 2019 at 2:00 PM MDT. The procurement seeks a funeral home or mortuary to provide cremation services for deceased individuals who are determined to be indigent, in compliance with Utah Code requirements for disposition of destitute individuals. Qualifying bidders must follow specific protocols, including consulting with survivors to verify indigent status and ensuring no gainfully employed family members exist. The successful vendor will be responsible for documenting cremation services with a legible death certificate and maintaining a consistent point of contact throughout the five-year contract period. Weber County will award the contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with pricing to include delivery charges and be shipped FOB Destination, Freight Pre-Paid, reserving the right to reject any or all submitted bids.

The solicitation does not explicitly specify set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract appears open to qualified funeral homes and mortuaries capable of meeting the county's indigent cremation service requirements. While no incumbent vendors are mentioned, the contract will be for a five-year term, suggesting a significant ongoing service commitment. Weber County will only compensate the selected vendor for services at the time of each individual incident, with payment contingent upon proper documentation and adherence to the specified guidelines. Though a specific budget range is not provided, the contract's scope suggests a variable funding model dependent on the number of indigent cremations required during the contract period. The county emphasizes that only authorized funeral personnel may communicate about services, and the vendor must carefully manage the sensitive process of identifying and serving indigent deceased individuals.