Montréal approves 36-month monitoring contract

Summary#

Montréal city council approved a 36-month framework agreement with Groupe Geninov inc. for construction-site monitoring when the Commission des services électriques de Montréal (CSEM; Montréal Electrical Services Commission) changes its underground network. City staff say the agreement is intended to add monitoring capacity for CSEM work.

  • The agreement is for services provided to the City on request, for up to $843,286.67, taxes included.
  • Five bids were received through public call for tenders S-2349; one was rejected for scoring below the required 70-point minimum. Groupe Geninov received the highest final score.
  • The agreement runs for 36 months from the notice of award, or until its maximum amount is used up, whichever comes first.
  • The resolution requires an evaluation of Groupe Geninov’s performance and authorizes the CSEM president to sign the agreement for the City.

What it means for you#

  • City and CSEM: The City can request professional monitoring services for CSEM underground-network work. The agreement does not require the City to order a set amount of work.
  • CSEM users: City staff say the cost is funded through the City’s capital program and reimbursed through charges to CSEM users. The decision does not set a new charge or say what any user will pay.

Money#

The agreement has a maximum amount of $843,286.67, taxes included.

  • The City will charge the expense to the capital program; city staff say it will be reimbursed through charges to CSEM users.
  • The decision gives no expected number of assignments or hours within that maximum.

What is unclear#

  • The decision does not say how many sites, assignments or hours Groupe Geninov will cover.
  • It does not explain how individual work requests will be allocated or assessed beyond the required performance evaluation.

Case for#

  • City staff say CSEM oversees about 90 worksites a year, and its 19 technical agents cannot monitor all the work, especially in summer. Contracting for extra expertise could help cover that workload.
  • Four bids passed the selection threshold, and Groupe Geninov received the highest final score. Its price was also below the City’s estimate.

Case against#

  • The agreement could use up to $843,286.67, with the cost ultimately reimbursed through charges to CSEM users.
  • The decision does not give expected hours or assignments, making it hard to judge whether the maximum amount matches the work needed.