Exhibit_J_-_VCBJ_Bidder_Disclaimer_and_Notice_to_Bidders.pdf

BIDDER DISCLAIMER & NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Volusia County Branch Jail — Air Handler & Fire Suppression Replacement and Upgrade

1300 Red John Drive, Daytona Beach, Florida 32724 | Bid Set: December 5, 2025 | Project No. 0122050

⚠ READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SUBMITTING A BID — THIS DISCLAIMER IS BINDING ON ALL

BIDDERS

1. Owner's Contingency — Existing Conduit Replacement

Bidders are hereby notified that Volusia County (the "Owner") has established a contingency allowance to address the potential replacement of existing fire alarm and HVAC conduit found to be damaged, deteriorated, or otherwise unsuitable for reuse during the course of construction. The construction documents permit reuse of existing conduit where new devices are required in the same physical locations; however, the actual condition of existing conduit cannot be fully determined until work is underway within the facility.

The Owner's contingency for new conduit replacement is separate from the Base Bid. Bidders shall not include conduit replacement beyond what is explicitly required by the construction documents in their Base Bid price. Any conduit replacement work beyond the Base Bid scope will be authorized by the Owner on a unit-price or time-and-material basis, in accordance with the Contract Documents and the Owner's contingency budget.

Bidders should be aware of the following conditions regarding existing conduit:

• The Contractor may reuse existing fire alarm conduit and boxes where new devices are required in the same physical locations, subject to re-supporting existing conduits and providing new connectors and couplings as required

• Existing conduit that is found to be crushed, corroded, filled with debris, improperly sealed, or otherwise unfit for reuse shall be reported to the Owner's Representative in writing immediately upon discovery

• All conduits — new or existing — routed through smoke- or fire-rated walls and barriers shall be properly sealed per the UL listing of the applicable wall or barrier assembly, regardless of whether the conduit is new or reused

• The Contractor is responsible for re-supporting all reused conduit runs; the condition of existing supports shall be field-verified and any deficiencies corrected as part of the Base Bid

• Authorization to replace existing conduit under the Owner's contingency must be obtained in writing from the Owner's Representative prior to performing the work; no additional compensation will be paid for conduit replacement performed without prior written authorization

2. Bidder Responsibility — Independent Verification Required

By submitting a bid for this project, each Bidder acknowledges and agrees to the following:

2.1 Independent Takeoffs Required

Each Bidder is solely responsible for performing its own complete and independent quantity takeoffs, material estimates, labor estimates, and scope reviews based on the official Contract Documents — including the construction drawings, project specifications, addenda, and any other documents issued by the Owner or Engineer of Record. No Bidder shall rely on scope summaries, quantity lists, notes, estimates, or descriptions prepared by or on behalf of the Owner, Facilities Management staff, project managers, or any other party as a substitute for the Bidder's own independent review of the Contract Documents.

Scope summaries, project descriptions, and background documents prepared in connection with this project are provided for general informational purposes only and do not constitute a complete or accurate representation of the full scope of work. These materials may contain omissions, approximations, or errors. Bidders are expressly cautioned not to rely on such materials when preparing their bids.

2.2 Existing Conditions

All information regarding existing conditions shown on the construction drawings was taken from a cursory field visit by the Engineer of Record and from past construction documents. Existing equipment and ductwork locations have been shown in an approximate manner only and are not to be construed as as-built conditions. Each Bidder is responsible for:

• Visiting the project site prior to bid submission to independently verify existing conditions, equipment locations, duct sizes, conduit routing, clearances, and all other field conditions relevant to the work

• Determining all work necessary to renovate, alter, change, and repair existing systems based on actual field conditions, not solely on the construction documents

• Identifying and accounting for all work required to connect new systems to existing systems, whether or not such connections are explicitly detailed in the drawings

• Verifying the condition and capacity of all existing infrastructure proposed for reuse, including conduit, ductwork, wiring, supports, and penetration seals

2.3 Accuracy of Bid

Each Bidder is solely responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and sufficiency of its bid. The Owner, Volusia County Facilities Management, the Engineer of Record, the Architect of Record, and their respective consultants, agents, and representatives make no representations or warranties — express or implied — regarding the accuracy or completeness of any scope summaries, project notes, background documents, or other informational materials provided in connection with this solicitation.

Submission of a bid constitutes the Bidder's representation that it has:

• Read, reviewed, and understood the complete Contract Documents

• Conducted an independent site visit and verified existing conditions

• Performed its own independent quantity takeoffs and scope review

• Made no material reliance on any scope summaries, notes, or descriptions not contained within the official Contract Documents

• Satisfied itself as to the nature, location, and extent of the work and all conditions that may affect the cost or performance of the contract

3. Questions and Clarifications

All questions regarding the scope of work, existing conditions, or the Contract Documents must be submitted in writing to the Owner's designated contact prior to the bid deadline. Responses to questions of general applicability will be issued as formal Addenda and will be distributed to all plan holders of record. Only information contained in the official Contract Documents and issued Addenda shall be binding. Verbal representations made by any party regarding the scope of work are non-binding and shall not be relied upon.

BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGMENT By submitting a bid for this project, the Bidder confirms that it has read, understood, and agrees to all terms of this Disclaimer and Notice to Bidders, that it has performed its own independent scope review and quantity takeoffs, and that it has not relied on any scope summaries, notes, or estimates prepared outside of the official Contract Documents in preparing its bid.