Summary#
Montréal city council approved a contract with Services d'infrastructures Vortex inc. for water-pipe and street rehabilitation in Lachine, Le Sud-Ouest, Outremont and Verdun. The council also authorized related contingency and incidental budgets, and ordered an evaluation of the contractor’s performance.
- The work includes about 1.56 kilometres of water-pipe rehabilitation, replacement of about 146 public and 59 private lead water connections, about 12,115 m² of roadway rehabilitation and minor sidewalk repairs.
- The maximum authorized total is $8,809,453.61, taxes included: $7,830,000 for the contract, $783,000 for contingencies and $196,453.61 for incidental costs.
- Vortex was the lowest compliant bidder, with an experience clause in the tender. Three firms submitted bids after a public call for tenders.
- The contract terms allow the city to impose daily penalties for certain delays or failures, and council directed the city to evaluate Vortex’s performance.
What it means for you#
- Residents in the four boroughs: Water pipes, roads and some sidewalks will be worked on. The exact streets are not listed in the materials provided.
- Owners whose private lead water connections are replaced: The contract includes about 59 replacements on private sections. The materials do not say whether or how owners will be charged for this work.
- Vortex: It must carry out the contracted work. The contract provides for penalties, including $1,000 to $3,500 per day for some street-work delays, and $1,000 per day for certain missed deadlines for schedules, street cleaning or correcting deficiencies.
- Taxpayers: The city authorized the total spending. The resolution does not state the final cost or how much of the authorized contingency and incidental budgets will be used.
Money#
The city authorized a maximum expenditure of $8,809,453.61, taxes included.
- The contract amount is $7,830,000, taxes included. The city also authorized $783,000 for contingencies and $196,453.61 for incidental costs.
- Vortex’s bid was 0.27% above the city’s estimate. It was 20% below the second-lowest compliant bid.
- The supplied material does not identify the funding source or say whether costs for private-section replacements will be reimbursed by owners.
What is unclear#
- The exact streets and construction schedule are not included in the supplied material. No publicly available information.
- It is unclear whether the earlier arrangement requiring owners to repay the city for some private-section lead-pipe replacements applies to the 59 replacements in this contract.
- The materials give a maximum authorized amount, not the final amount the city will spend.
Case for#
- City staff say trenchless pipe lining can be faster than excavation, reduce disruption to nearby infrastructure and reduce excavation waste.
- The contract combines pipe work with road and sidewalk repairs on some of the same streets.
- Vortex submitted the lowest compliant bid. Its price was close to the city’s estimate, which staff considered acceptable.
Case against#
- The authorized maximum is substantial, and the materials do not identify its funding source or the final cost.
- Vortex’s bid was 20% below the next-lowest compliant bid. That gap does not show a problem, but it is a notable difference; the city ordered a performance evaluation.
- The materials do not explain whether owners will pay for work on private water connections.