Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted a position to award EBI Envirotech inc. a contract for pumping and removing residues at the Jean-R.-Marcotte wastewater treatment plant and the interceptor network. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. The stated goal is to support wastewater treatment and maintain the equipment and sewer network.
- The contract would cover 24 months, with an option to extend it by 12 months.
- It covers on-demand use of specialized mobile equipment and operators, including pumping and removing residues and disposing of them at an approved landfill.
- The proposed contract price is $2,852,509.80, taxes included. The resolution also authorizes $285,250.98, taxes included, for changes in quantities.
- EBI Envirotech inc. was the only compliant bidder in the public call for tenders. The resolution also requires an evaluation of the company’s performance.
What it means for you#
- Residents and taxpayers: This is a city-service contract, not a new household fee or benefit. The cost is assigned entirely to the agglomeration.
- Wastewater service: City staff say the work is needed to maintain treatment and sewer equipment. The contract includes cleaning and pumping at the plant and interceptor network, and removal of incinerator ash and other residues.
- EBI Envirotech inc.: If the agglomeration council approves the award, the company would carry out the work under the tender documents and its bid.
Money#
The proposed total is $3,137,760.78, taxes included; the decision summary gives the net cost as $2,865,193.83 after tax rebates.
- The resolution authorizes $2,852,509.80 for the contract and $285,250.98 for changes in quantities.
- The agglomeration would pay the full cost. The decision summary assigns $2,820,727.21 to the wastewater division and $317,033.57 to the water networks division; both figures include taxes and quantity changes.
- City staff estimate the total is $593,531.09, or 23.33%, above their estimate. They say higher labour costs explain much of the difference.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not say what conditions would trigger the 12-month extension or give its separate cost.
- The contract covers work “on demand,” but the materials do not give a schedule or the amount of work expected beyond the stated annual quantity of 1,260 metric tonnes of scum.
- The decision summary says the contract period runs from January 2026 to December 2027; it does not explain how the extension would affect that schedule.
Case for#
- City staff say the work is needed to maintain treatment capacity and keep plant and sewer equipment in good condition.
- Staff say that without the contract, untreated wastewater could be discharged repeatedly into the St. Lawrence River.
- Renting specialized equipment with operators may avoid the cost of buying and operating equipment for varied work, according to city staff.
Case against#
- Only one compliant bid was received, so the city had no competing compliant offer to compare with EBI Envirotech’s price.
- Even after a negotiated 0.12% reduction, the bid total was 23.33% above the city’s estimate.
- The quantity-change budget allows spending to rise, while the materials do not explain what would trigger the 12-month extension or its cost.