Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted the city’s position in favour of a 24-month framework agreement with CIMA+ s.e.n.c. for professional services on the city’s fibre-optic networks. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. The stated goal, according to city staff, is to support network projects and municipal communications infrastructure.
- If approved, CIMA+ would provide network design, construction oversight, deployment and upgrades when the city requests the services.
- The proposed agreement has a maximum amount of $1,494,629.01, taxes included. It includes an option to extend for 12 months.
- The city’s position also calls for an evaluation of CIMA+’s performance.
- The city would draw on its capital investment program (PDI) and/or the IT department’s operating budget, as needs arise.
What it means for you#
- Residents and taxpayers: This is a municipal infrastructure and contracting decision, not a new direct service or benefit for residents. The spending would come from city budgets and could be shared partly as an agglomeration expense.
- City departments: If the agreement is approved, they could request CIMA+’s services for fibre-network projects, including connections for municipal buildings and infrastructure such as traffic lights.
- CIMA+: The firm would provide services on request under the agreement; the materials do not require the city to use the full amount.
Money#
The proposed agreement has a maximum amount of $1,494,629.01, taxes included; actual spending would depend on the services requested.
- The contract followed a public call for tenders. Seven bids were submitted; one did not meet the qualitative threshold. CIMA+ received the highest final score among the selected bids.
- The staff summary says the 12-month extension option could involve up to $747,314.505, taxes included, with prices adjusted for the consumer price index. It does not clearly explain how this figure relates to the $1,494,629.01 amount.
- The city would charge spending to the PDI and/or the IT department’s operating budget. The final budget commitments and any agglomeration cost-sharing would be assessed as projects arise.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not say how much of the maximum amount the city expects to use, or how many projects or service requests it covers.
- The start date is not stated.
- The extension amount is given to three decimal places, and its relationship to the main agreement amount is unclear.
- The materials do not specify how the city’s performance evaluation will be made public or what consequences could follow from it.
Case for#
- City staff say the agreement would provide engineering support for fibre-network design, construction oversight, technical validation and documentation.
- Staff say the network supports municipal communications and connections to buildings and other city infrastructure.
- CIMA+ had the highest final score under the pre-set evaluation criteria. Its bid was 8.81% below the city’s estimate.
Case against#
- One concern is that the agreement sets a large spending ceiling without showing how much work the city will actually order.
- The city’s expected budget split and any agglomeration cost-sharing will be determined later, as projects arise.
- The extension could add cost, and the materials do not clearly reconcile its stated maximum with the main agreement amount.