RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION will hire the design professional . Frequently , the design professional will represent the owner and act on the owner ’ s behalf in dealing with the contractor .”
DOES THE RFP SPECIFY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PERMITTING ? The RFP should specify who is responsible for obtaining and paying for all necessary permits . Getting this done as quickly as possible can help the project start on time .
Sites may have zoning and permitting limitations that need to be addressed before construction can commence . Any possible variance or special exception that needs to be obtained from local , municipal , state or federal governments or from property owners associations should be considered . Rather than delaying a project , appropriate investigation before purchasing a site can prevent expensive and time-consuming problems later . Permits often require certified surveys or stamped architectural and / or engineering drawings .
“ Generally , the contractor is responsible for paying fees and obtaining permits ,” said Cohen . “ The owner ’ s primary responsibility is to fund the project .”
For most projects , state and local codes will impact the majority of regulated aspects of the project . These rules might include fence location and height , building setbacks and heights , erosion and sedimentation control and drainage considerations , flood plains , access roads , parking requirements , light spill , utilities , setbacks , etc . Conservation , wetlands and historic preservation regulations will affect some sites . An environmental impact statement may be required .
DOES THE RFP COVER ALL ISSUES OF SITE AND SOIL TESTING ? Before construction can commence ( but after the contract is awarded ), soil testing will need to be carried out ; the responsibility for this should be made clear in the RFP .
“ It ’ s always subject to the terms of the contract , but it ’ s typical for the owner to pay for testing so that the testing agency is responsible to them ,” said Cohen . “ The contractor will schedule the testing .”
If you are unfamiliar with soil testing and site investigation issues , a geotechnical or soils engineer can recommend the appropriate tests . They can also help the design professional ( or you ) interpret the results so appropriate remediation steps can be specified and / or the design can be engineered to address less-than-ideal site conditions . If not identified and addressed , poor drainage or soil instability will affect the life expectancy of any project .
Photo courtesy of SCG Fields , LLC
DOES THE RFP LIST THE STANDARDS TO WHICH THE PROJECT SHOULD BE BUILT ? Is this a high school field that will need to adhere to the standards promulgated by the National Federation of State High School Associations , a college facility that needs to meet NCAA requirements , or a field that will host professional action ? If this is a multi-sport field , list on the RFP which sports you expect to host so that the contractor can take those into consideration .
DO YOU HAVE A SURFACE ALREADY CHOSEN ? The RFP should make clear whether this is a natural or synthetic field ( or a hybrid surface ), and specifically which type of field . If natural grass , for example , is it a native soil field , a sand-based field , etc .? If it is a synthetic field , have you picked out a particular turf brand or are you willing to let the contractor recommend one ? Do you want a certain type of infill ? If you are interested in synthetic turf , you will want to indicate which playing lines will be needed , as well as any logos or other lettering that you want . Try to plan your project as a finished product and work backwards from there . sportsfieldmanagementonline . com March 2024 | SportsField Management
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