Photo courtesy of HNP LLC
MACHINERY HELPING TURF CARE EXPERTS ACHIEVE PERFECTION
ASK FOR REFERENCES In the interest of having a quality field that performs well , you will need a company experienced in field construction . Almost any RFP will include a request for references , testimonials , project photos and other proof that the contractor has done similar work for other customers .
When circling back to check those references , you ’ ll want to ask the following : Is it possible for me to look at the project the contractor did for you ? Have you been happy with the project ? What do your athletes say about it ? Would you hire the contractor again ? Why or why not ? Were they good at communicating with you about what was going on throughout the course of the project ? Were they able to complete the project on time and keep it on budget ? Were there any unexpected costs or fees ? Were there any unexpected problems during the course of the project ? If so , how did you think the contractor did with them ? What else would you like to point out ? You might also want to ask the contractor whether they belong to any professional or trade associations or have any construction certifications . Have they won awards for any of their work ? How long have they been in business ? Are they skilled in building fields , or is it just one of the things they do ?
Check each contractor ’ s license to make sure it is up to date , and check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints lodged against them . Check with the American Sports Builders Association to see if they are members .
FINISHING THE RFP A deadline for responses should be clearly specified . Review the RFP for accuracy and completion , and ascertain you have covered all salient points .
While any project can hit snags that are out of everyone ’ s control ( such as supply chain problems and weather delays ), a strong RFP is a good start , and can help you lay the foundation for the field you want . SFM
Mary Helen Sprecher wrote this article on behalf of the American Sports Builders Association ( ASBA ). For more information , visit www . sportsbuilders . org .
Campey supply market leading , innovative turf care machinery worldwide , we ’ re continually researching new techniques and refining existing practices .
www . campeyturfcare . com sportsfieldmanagementonline . com March 2024 | SportsField Management
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