Hillsborough County opens pre-bid for IFB 25-0015 to replace medical examiner morgue coolers; bids due Feb. 21

Hillsborough County procurement staff held a publicly noticed pre-bid conference for Invitation for Bid IFB 25-0015 on the medical examiner morgue cooler replacement, reiterating submission rules, site-visit logistics and the project scope.

The meeting, opened by Lisa Demena, senior buyer with the procurement department, confirmed that “only a written addendum may change the bid documents” and that the county’s cone-of-silence is in effect. Demena told attendees that questions would not be answered at the meeting and must be submitted in writing through the Bonfire portal; per the solicitation, the deadline for questions is 14 calendar days after the site visit.

The solicitation sets a site visit for Jan. 23, 2025, at 2 p.m. at 11025 North 46th Street, Tampa; online bids must be submitted through the Bonfire portal by 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, the stated close date. Demena directed bidders to the solicitation sections governing the pre-bid conference and site visit and to contact only procurement staff identified in the solicitation’s cone-of-silence clause.

Brian Laverty, project manager with Capital Construction, described the work as a full replacement of the existing body coolers in the morgue and the county medical examiner building. “The scope of this project is to replace the existing body coolers at the morgue and the county medical examiner building,” Laverty said. He said the work includes interior demolition of insulated concrete flooring and insulated cooler walls, installation of new flooring, plumbing tie-ins, a turnkey cooler package (insulated ceilings, walls, floors, climate control equipment, heated doorways, lighting and required low-voltage equipment) and electrical tied into existing service.

Laverty said the procurement will be structured with a base bid for the east coolers and an alternate for the west coolers; construction sequencing is intended to limit operational impact by completing one set of coolers before beginning the alternate. He also noted the facility is secured and that medical examiner operations will require 24-hour access next to the construction area and should not be impeded during work.

Amy Jarnin of capital projects reiterated that project details are contained in the solicitation’s special conditions and that bidders should submit contractual questions to procurement for written clarification. Demena closed by reminding participants the site-visit security procedures are described in the solicitation and that responses and any revisions will be issued only in written addenda via Bonfire.

The pre-bid meeting was recorded and will be made available in Bonfire after the meeting ends.