1. The successful Offeror will be responsible for providing transport services for the Georgetown County Coroner’s Office to include the proper pick-up and transportation of deceased bodies as directed by the Coroner. The County Coroner will direct whether the body is transported to the Grand Strand Funeral Home in Murrells Inlet or to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. The Offeror must be qualified, prepared and available to provide these services on a 24 hours a day, seven days a week basis for the Coroner’s Office. The Offeror must be familiar with all portions of federal, state, municipal and county laws and ordinances pertaining to the handling of deceased persons. 2. Charges to Deceased’s Estate: Contractor shall not charge the deceased’s estate, survivors, insurance, etc., for any transportation services made under the direction of the Coroner’s Office. Failure to adhere to this requirement may be just cause for immediate termination of the contract 3. The Offeror must also provide satisfactory evidence that they can provide all of the labor, equipment and supplies necessary to perform the proposed services which the Offeror and Coroner reasonably and mutually agree are needed for the Offeror to fulfill the obligations under an agreement. The Offeror must have and maintain in force and effect all necessary and appropriate licenses by the State Board of Funeral Services. Georgetown County will reserve the right of prior approval and the right to conduct background investigations on all Offeror personnel who may be an employee of the Offeror, or under contract or subcontract with the Offeror. 4. The Offeror will be required to provide a removal vehicle fully equipped to handle two standard mortuary stretchers, staffed employees who are fully insured and properly trained for the unaided removal and transportation of human remains. On occasions the County Coroner may require at least two (2) employees to be available to conduct the transport. The equipment and assigned personnel must be available on an “as-needed basis” on a 24 hours a day, seven days a week schedule subject to calls for service from the Georgetown County Coroner’s Office. The successful Offeror must agree to be to respond to each of the Coroner’s calls for service within a period of sixty (60) minutes. The Offeror will also be required to be able to provide and maintain a backup removal vehicle on an “as-needed basis”. The equipment and vehicles used by the Offeror to provide these services must be visibly marked signifying the professional nature of their services. In accordance with the National Association of Medical Examiners (N.A.M.E.) accreditation requirements, the successful Offeror will provide documentation of scheduled maintenance and repair of the Offeror’s transport vehicles. 5. The Offeror’s employees who will operate these vehicles must be attired professionally and be able to communicate appropriately and interact with persons at any removal location or at any professional, familial or social level. All transport personnel must possess an appropriate and valid South Carolina driver’s license, may be subject to a complete criminal background check and/or a random drug screening by Georgetown County. The Coroner reserves the right to request clothing changes from the successful Offeror to ensure that a professional appearance is maintained when transport services are being provided. All transport personnel are bound to confidentiality of information pertaining to the deceased.
