Home / Trades / Specialties (Partitions, Accessories & Lockers)
Specialties (Partitions, Accessories & Lockers): what bids leave out
Specialties are the small items that are easy to forget: toilet partitions, restroom accessories, grab bars, lockers, fire extinguisher cabinets, corner guards and similar pieces. One bidder furnishes and installs everything on the schedule, with blocking locations marked. Another supplies partitions only, says accessories are owner-furnished, and leaves installation and blocking to others. Count every item before you compare.
Level your specialties bids with this checklist →
Standard scope checklist
Send this to every bidder and ask them to mark each line Included, Excluded or give an Add $. Silence is not inclusion.
Sending it out? Use the free scope letter template to ask every bidder for line-item scope, inclusions, exclusions and alternates. Terms to know: exclusion, NIC (not in contract), scope of work.
| # | Scope item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Specialties schedule: every item counted by room |
| 2 | Furnish only, or furnish and install |
| 3 | Toilet partitions: material, mounting type and hardware |
| 4 | Urinal screens |
| 5 | Restroom accessories: paper towel, soap, tissue and waste units |
| 6 | Owner-furnished accessories and who installs them |
| 7 | Grab bars and accessible accessories where required (check local code/AHJ) |
| 8 | Mirrors |
| 9 | Baby changing stations |
| 10 | Fire extinguishers and fire extinguisher cabinets (rated where required) |
| 11 | Corner guards and wall protection |
| 12 | Lockers: type, size, base and sloped tops |
| 13 | Shelving and storage units (if in scope) |
| 14 | Markerboards, tackboards and display cases |
| 15 | Coat hooks, shower rods and other small accessories |
| 16 | In-wall blocking and backing (specialties or framing sub) |
| 17 | Ceiling-hung partition support steel |
| 18 | Recessed vs. surface-mounted accessories (wall prep for recessed units) |
| 19 | Mounting heights and layout per plans |
| 20 | Protection, cleaning and removal of packaging |
| 21 | Delivery and storage on site |
| 22 | Sales tax, freight and bond |
Common exclusions and how they are worded
| Exclusion | Typical wording | Why it matters | Typical cost to cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installation |
| Supply-only specialties quotes look small. Someone still has to lay out, drill and fasten every partition and accessory. | TBD |
| Blocking |
| Grab bars, partitions and wall-hung accessories need solid backing inside the wall before drywall goes up. Mark locations early and assign it. | TBD |
| Owner-furnished accessories |
| Dispensers are sometimes provided by a supply vendor. Someone still has to install them, and the blocking still has to be there. | TBD |
| Fire extinguishers & cabinets |
| Cabinets and extinguishers are often split. Fire-rated walls may need rated cabinets. Confirm the count and who supplies the extinguishers. | TBD |
| Ceiling-hung support |
| Ceiling-hung partitions need steel above the ceiling. If it isn't carried, you'll find out when the ceiling is already closed. | TBD |
| Grab bars & accessible items |
| Grab bars and accessible fittings are needed to pass inspection. Make sure they're priced and mounted at the right heights for your AHJ. | TBD |
| Lockers base & trim |
| Lockers often need a concrete or wood base, fillers and sloped tops. Small pieces, but they leave obvious gaps if missing. | TBD |
| Wall protection |
| Corner guards and wall panels protect busy corridors. They're easy to drop from a bid and costly to add after paint. | TBD |
| Mirrors & recessed units |
| Mirrors may fall to the glazing sub, and recessed units need framed openings. Check that each bid prices what's drawn. | TBD |
“Typical cost to cover” is TBD. We will publish ranges only once we have real, sourced data. Until then, use your own estimate or a confirmed add price from a bidder.
Questions to ask bidders
- Does your price include every item on the specialties schedule, furnished and installed?
- Who installs in-wall blocking, and will you mark locations before drywall?
- Are any accessories owner-furnished? Who installs them?
- Are fire extinguishers included, or cabinets only? Are rated cabinets priced where needed?
- If partitions are ceiling-hung, who provides the support steel?
- Are grab bars and accessible accessories included?
- Are locker bases, sloped tops and fillers included?
- Who furnishes and installs mirrors?
Bid-ready specialties contractors
Contractors who agree to price against the standard checklist above, with exclusions spelled out line by line. Listings are not live yet.
Featured listing
Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist
Featured listing
Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist