Summary#
Montréal city council approved two framework agreements with 9363-9888 Québec inc. (Sanivac) for on-call water-service connection thawing in six boroughs. The agreements last two years, with an option to extend for 12 months; city staff say the goal is to help maintain drinking-water service during winter freezes.
- Lot 1 covers Ville-Marie, Sud-Ouest, Lachine and Verdun; Lot 2 covers Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and Outremont.
- Sanivac must provide hot-water or steam thawing when the City calls. The service is for winter, seven days a week.
- The City must evaluate Sanivac’s performance. Boroughs oversee work on site; the Service de l’eau coordinates the agreements.
- The agreement guarantees compensation equal to at least 16% of the estimated thaw interventions if the value of work done is below that minimum.
What it means for you#
- Residents in the six boroughs: If an interruption in water service is reported and thawing is needed, the borough can call Sanivac. The contractor must normally start within six hours of the call; in periods of high demand, the limit can extend to 48 hours.
- Residents and property owners: The decision does not set out a new household charge or change who qualifies for service.
Money#
The estimated total is $296,772.03, taxes included, for both agreements, including contingency and quantity-variation budgets.
- The base amounts are $114,141.43 for Lot 1 and $123,276.20 for Lot 2. The council also authorized $23,741.76 for contingencies and $35,612.64 for quantity variations, all taxes included.
- Spending will be charged to borough and city-service budgets as needs arise. The City is not required to use all estimated quantities.
- The tender analysis put the totals about 9.4% and 9.8% above the City’s latest estimates for Lots 1 and 2, respectively.
What is unclear#
- The City’s actual spending will depend on how many thawing jobs are needed and whether it uses the extension.
- The decision does not explain how the guaranteed 16% minimum is calculated in dollars, or how the extension would be exercised.
Case for#
- City staff say winter freezes can interrupt household water service, and that the number of incidents is predictable only shortly in advance. An on-call service may help the City respond when thawing is needed.
- The agreements require seven-day winter availability and set a start-time limit, while allowing up to 48 hours during high demand.
Case against#
- Only one bid was compliant for each lot, limiting competition. City staff’s analysis also found the agreement totals were above their latest estimates.
- The City may owe the contractor the guaranteed minimum compensation even if the value of work performed is lower. The decision does not give the dollar value of that possible payment.