Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously set its position in favour of awarding Keleny inc. a three-year contract for court interpreting and legalized translation for the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM). The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. City staff say the goal is to maintain these services for police work and help people understand their rights and the information given to them.
- The contract would cost $868,969.55, taxes included, for three years.
- It was put out to public tender. Two bids were submitted; Keleny was the only bidder that met the requirements and passed the selection criteria. The other bidder did not reach the passing score.
- The decision assigns the expense to the agglomeration because public safety is an agglomeration responsibility.
What it means for you#
- People who deal with the SPVM: City staff say interpreters and legalized translations are needed for police investigations and communications. The decision does not create a new right to request these services or set rules for when they must be provided.
- Keleny inc.: The company would receive the contract if the agglomeration council approves the award.
- Taxpayers: The agglomeration, rather than Montréal’s city budget alone, would cover the expense. The decision does not set a new tax or fee.
Money#
The proposed contract is $868,969.55, taxes included; no separate cost estimate for this decision is given beyond the contract figures.
- The total is $793,485.02 net of tax rebates and $755,790 before taxes.
- City staff estimate annual spending of $289,656.52, taxes included. They say there is no planned increase across the three contract years.
- The expense is planned from the SPVM operating budget. Credits for later years must be prioritized through the SPVM budget process.
- City staff say the contract price is 3% below the city’s estimate. They also say this contract is below the $1 million threshold for the cited public-contracts integrity law.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not give expected service volumes, unit prices, or details about how the contract’s maximum amount would be managed if demand is higher than expected.
- The materials do not state whether the contract has renewal options.
- The selection criteria and the reasons the other bidder failed to pass are not fully set out.
Case for#
- City staff say interpretation and legalized translation help the SPVM serve people with different language needs and help them understand their rights and explanations.
- A new three-year contract could support continuity after the previous contract reached its maximum earlier than expected, according to city staff.
- Keleny passed the selection criteria, and its price was below the city’s estimate.
Case against#
- Only one of the two submitted bids qualified, so the materials show limited competition among bids that met the requirements.
- The contract is a substantial three-year commitment, while the materials do not detail expected volumes or explain how the spending limit would be handled if demand rises.