SPORTS FIELD CONSTRUCTION
Photo courtesy of HNP LLC
and equipment , ASBA can provide a free online listing of its members , including contractors who specialize in this type of construction ( www . sportsbuilders . org , then “ Find a Member ”).
After winnowing the field of potential contractors down to those who have more experience , the next step in the selection process comes in the form of asking questions . The first involves doing research on previous projects similar to your proposed project . Any contractor should be able to provide references . Find those who own and manage projects similar to yours , and that have been given as references by the companies responding to the RFP . Some key questions include : What was the contractor like to work with overall ? Was the job completed on time ? Did the job meet expectations ? Were there any hidden costs ? Was the contractor able to solve any problems arising during construction ? Have there been any post-construction problems and if so , has the builder been responsive in addressing them ? How does the field look and how does it play ?
ASBA offers a voluntary certification program for contractors . In field construction , contractors may earn the designation of Certified Field Builder ( CFB ) by demonstrating experience in sports field construction , and by successfully passing an exam on key aspects of sports field design and construction . In some cases , contractors choose to pursue certification in specific surfaces ; for this reason , ASBA offers certifications programs for CFB-N ( for those whose work concentrates in natural grass fields ) and CFB-S ( for those who specialize in synthetic surfaces .) Another certification which may come into play is that of Certified Track Builder ( CTB ).
“ One important but often overlooked item to consider when you ’ re looking to build a field and interviewing companies is , first , to ask , ‘ Do you have an ASBA Certified Field Builder on staff ?’” said Robert J . Cohen , CFB , CTB , of Robert Cohen Co ., LLC Sport Surfaces Distributing , Inc ., Bernalillo , New Mexico . “ Request a list of three to four recent projects with contact names , emails and phone numbers , and contact them for references . The best reference to ask for is one where there was a warranty issue and to find out how it was handled and resolved .”
Field / facility owners also should consider the following : Does the contractor have the necessary insurance and bonding capacity ? How many years has the company been in business ? If it is a relatively new company , what is the work experience of its principals ? How many fields have they built ? Were they responsible for the complete project or only specific aspects of the job ( surface , drainage , site work , etc .)?
In addition , ask about the contractor ’ s insurance and whether there have been any major accidents or claims against the builder ? Also find out if the company is certified or accredited by , or a member of , a trade organization .
Even if construction materials and methods are identical and items included in the contract are consistent , look beyond price when comparing proposals . Quality construction is a good value for the dollars invested . Choosing on low bid alone is often not cost effective .
Compare proposed construction schedules , progress payments and , of course , guarantees and warranties . Understand what is included in any guarantee ( materials , workmanship or both ) and for how long . sportsfieldmanagementonline . com December 2024 | SportsField Management
19