Quick answer: Hire a firm that builds baseball and softball fields as core work (the ASBA’s RFP guidance in SportsField Management says to ask). Write a detailed scope first, or hire a designer or consultant to. Choose a delivery method SportsField Management describes: competitive bid, design-build, negotiated contract or purchasing cooperative. Ask who on the job is an ASBA Certified Field Builder, call references with the ASBA’s questions, and compare bids line by line, not on the total.
What a field builder actually does
The Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) lists the design decisions (survey, layout, slope, rootzone, turfgrass, drainage, irrigation), then the build: rootzone, drainage and irrigation installation, grading and turf establishment. Robert Cohen of Sport Surfaces Distributing says “electrical, plumbing and mechanical at a minimum are performed by subs,” so ask which parts are subcontracted. Some firms specialize in renovation and laser grading rather than new builds; see our field maintenance contractors.
Renovate or rebuild?
Survey first, the SFMA says: the field “may only need minor repairs to adjust the grade or complete reconstruction.” Elevation work “should always begin between the pitcher’s mound and home plate,” and added soil “must match the existing soil as closely as possible” to avoid layering (see fixing infield drainage). Advanced Turf Solutions recommends laser grading annually. Sports Field Solutions warns that going beyond two years between gradings likely means a significant renovation that, by its own estimate, “can see renovation costs escalate upwards of $40-45,000, or more.” See what an infield renovation costs and how to grade a baseball field.
Four ways to hire a field builder
| Method | How it works | Best fit / when used | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design/bid/build (competitive bid) | Owner’s designer drafts plans and specs, then it goes to bid. | Often “mandated in public projects” | Lowest qualified bid generally wins; Todd Penley (GeoSurfaces): the owner “bears significant risk” if the design changes. |
| Design/build | One company designs and builds. | Penley: it “takes much of the risk off a project owner.” | Paul Arcella (CSR Heavy): shortlist firms from an initial submission. |
| Negotiated contract | Direct agreement, no competitive bidding. | Smaller projects “such as renovations or resurfacing of a single field” | No bid competition. |
| Cooperative purchasing contract (CPC) | Buy from a co-op agency’s pre-qualified, pre-bid builders. | Governments, schools, universities, religious organizations | “Not-to-exceed” price lists; you negotiate the final price. |
SportsField Management adds construction management for very large projects. Eleven listings in our directory say they offer design-build: Hellas Construction, Florida Carter Corporation, Clark Companies, Paragon Sports Constructors, Byrne & Jones Construction, Sossamon Construction, Fielder’s Choice Inc., Oheil Site Solutions, Ballard Sports, Keystone Sports Construction and UDC Sports. The SCG Fields, LLC listing claims “Awarded Vendor” status with the TIPS Purchasing Cooperative; public buyers should check with their purchasing office that a co-op contract is allowed for their project.
Write the scope before you call anyone
The ASBA guidance says a highly detailed project description is the most important part of an RFP. Wes Ganobcik, in SportsField Management, says to “write very tight specifications” and, if you lack the time or background, “you may want to hire a qualified consultant.” Include:
- Your architect or designer (Ganobcik: no “cookie-cutter design”), delivery method and permits (Cohen: usually the contractor).
- Who pays for soil testing (Cohen: typically the owner).
- Standards (NFHS, NCAA or professional) and every sport played.
- Surface: natural, synthetic or hybrid, and its type. Turf field? Say so here.
- Amenities, from lighting to dugouts, and your pitching mound specs.
- The completion window and liquidated damages; Cohen: “‘Time is of the essence’ is a clause contained in most construction contracts.”
- One point of contact, a reference request and a response deadline.
- Logistics (Ganobcik): equipment size and weight limits, access points, a stockpile area.
- Infield mix (SportsField Management’s experts): independent lab results, a sieve analysis, a sample, a nearby source.
Compare infield mix suppliers and read calcined clay vs infield mix.
What real bid packages ask for
| Item | Oak Harbor, WA ITB (2024) | Timberlane Regional SD, NH RFP (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Project | Three Little League fields | Varsity baseball field |
| References | Washington municipal clients, past five years | Five, similar scope and size |
| Experience proof | History, completed ballfields, photos | Year founded, staff, equipment, litigation history |
| Bid security/bonds | 5% bid deposit or bond; performance bond | Not stated in our source |
| Insurance | Auto, liability, $2,000,000 pollution liability; City additional insured | Auto, liability, workers’ comp; District additional insured |
| Schedule/penalty | Four weeks; $500 per day over | Sept. 1–Nov. 30, 2025 |
| Warranty | At least one year from final acceptance, or longer extended warranty | Not stated in our source |
| Scoring/award | Not stated in our source | Price 40, capability 20, experience 20, understanding 20 (of 100) |
| Pricing format | Bid price sheet | Each spec item priced separately |
Price was only 40 of Timberlane’s 100 points. Oak Harbor required a 5% bid deposit and gave four weeks, with a $500-a-day penalty. Athletic Business adds that large contracts need a performance bond, complex jobs a pre-bid conference, and “If a bid is really low, the bid reviewer usually contacts the firm to ask to check the quotation.”
ASBA Certified Field Builder: what it means and how to require it
The certification requires at least three years’ experience, 100 eligibility points, three references and a comprehensive exam, renewed every three years; ASBA membership isn’t required. A person holds it, not a company, so ask who on your job is certified (check the ASBA’s Find a Certified Builder search) and whether they’ll be on site. ASBA sample bid language:
“The general contractor shall employ or engage a Certified Builder (Tennis, Track or Field) as certified by the American Sports Builders Association who will be present at the site regularly throughout the project to supervise and inspect all phases of the (tennis, track, field) construction project. The identity of the certified builders and documentation of their credentials will be provided with the bid documents.”
A looser alternate says the certified builder “will supervise or exercise general oversight over” the project. Arcella urges owners “to pre-qualify the bidding contractors before they are allowed to bid.” No listing in our directory says it has a Certified Field Builder on staff; the S&R Turf & Irrigation Equipment and Florida Carter Corporation listings say they are ASBA members.
Check references the right way
Ask past clients the ASBA’s questions:
- Is it possible for me to look at the project the contractor did for you?
- Would you hire the contractor again? Why or why not?
- Were they able to complete the project on time and keep it on budget? Were there any unexpected costs or fees?
Also ask: “Are they skilled in building fields, or is it just one of the things they do?” Then confirm the license is current, check the Better Business Bureau for complaints and confirm ASBA membership with its Find a Member search.
What builds and renovations have cost
| Project | Year | Scope | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester (Mass.) Little League | 2021 | Replace, amend and re-sod a 60-foot infield; Sports Turf Specialties estimate | $27,914.22 | Town of Winchester agenda packet |
| Scottsboro (Ala.) City Schools | 2021 | Aerate, laser grade, topdress two fields; rebuild baseball infield | $25,878 plus sand trucking | News report |
| Seaside Park (N.J.) | 2025 | Grading, backstop, drainage basin, base paths, re-sod | $176,146 low bid; $75,000 state grant | News report |
| Gulf Breeze (Fla.) | 2023 | Laser grading; awarded to Field and Fairway Unlimited | $150,000 estimated | City project page |
| Greencastle (Ind.) schools | 2026 | Baseball and softball improvements; infield items $143,570 (about 15%) | $952,219 total | News report |
Scope drives every number; line-item bids are the only fair comparison.
Red flags
- No site visit or survey before the price (SFMA).
- A bid far below the rest (Athletic Business says to have it checked).
- No references for similar ballfield work (Oak Harbor, Timberlane, ASBA).
- No answer on what’s subcontracted (Cohen).
- Vague materials instead of a named, lab-tested mix (Ganobcik; SportsField Management’s experts).
- No written warranty terms (Oak Harbor’s one-year clause; Athletic Business).
After the build: punch list and warranty
Athletic Business describes closeout: a signed punch list, a final inspection, then “Usually there is a one-year warranty period,” ending in another inspection. Oak Harbor’s clause: at least one year from final acceptance. For funding, see Little League’s SAFE to Play Facility Improvement grant; Seaside Park used a $75,000 state grant. Then use our baseball field maintenance products guide and guides to the best time of year to renovate and questions to ask before hiring a maintenance contractor.
Baseball field construction companies in our directory, by region
Below are the 93 field builders and renovators in our directory by headquarters region; many work in several states or nationally. A listing is not an endorsement: run each builder through the checks above. Texas or Connecticut? Start with that region.
Browse baseball field builders and renovators, field maintenance contractors, equipment dealers and infield mix suppliers.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a baseball field contractor near me?
Use the regional table above, then the checks on this page.
Do I have to take the lowest bid?
Design/bid/build generally goes to the lowest bid meeting all requirements, per SportsField Management; check your own procurement rules. Timberlane weighted price at 40 of 100 points, and Arcella urges pre-qualifying bidders.
How long does a field renovation take?
Your scope and play schedule decide. Oak Harbor allowed four weeks for three Little League fields; Timberlane’s window ran Sept. 1–Nov. 30.
