FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
Have a Project to Bid Out?
By Mary Helen Sprecher
fter much debate and discussion, you’ re ready to add another sports facility. Maybe it’ s a field. Maybe it’ s a tennis or pickleball court. Maybe it’ s a venue to host a trendy new sport like padel, an old favorite like croquet or bocce, or even a different amenity like a dog park. But no matter what it is, you’ re ready to take that next step to get it built. So, what happens next?
Often, what happens next is confusion and even a case of low-level panic— and that is entirely understandable. If you’ ve never solicited a bid for a project before, the prospect of assembling a bid package can seem daunting. What you need is Bid 101. And for that, you’ ve come to the right place. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before we dive in.
Have a knowledgeable partner. A design professional with sportsfacility-specific skills can help you understand what needs to be done, and can work with you to create the best possible document.
“ When a prospective client is starting the process of preparing a bid for construction, their first step should be to engage a professional design consultant to assist in the preparation of a bid package,” said Jonathan Charwick, RLA, of Activitas Inc. in Dedham, Massachusetts.“ It is always a good recommendation to engage a design consultant who has experience with the type of project the client is looking to implement. An experienced design consultant will often understand what is required to prepare the bid package.”
Put in the time now for the best result. Creating a good bid package is a timeconsuming process; but the more effort and thought you put into it, the better the overall document will be.
The better your bid package is, the better your chances are of getting consistent bids from multiple vendors, said Charwick.
“ It is recommended that the bid package include a bid form, project manual with specifications, and drawings,” he said.“ The project manual will typically outline the
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