City to buy bags for firefighter PPE

Summary#

The Montréal city council decision is titled Conclure une entente-cadre avec Les Emballages Carrousel inc., pour la fourniture de sacs de plastique pour l'ensachage des équipements de protection individuels du Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal, d'une durée de trois ans. The council unanimously adopted a position to conclude a three-year agreement with Les Emballages Carrousel inc.; the agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. City staff say the goal is to reduce firefighters’ exposure to contaminants.

  • The agreement would allow the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal (SIM) to order four types of plastic bags as needed, up to a maximum of $545,740.34, taxes included.
  • The contract would go to the only bidder whose bid met the requirements, following a public call for tenders.
  • The city’s position also calls for an evaluation of the supplier’s performance.

What it means for you#

  • SIM and firefighters: If the agreement proceeds, SIM could order bags to carry contaminated or clean protective equipment and other items. City staff say the bags are intended to reduce exposure to contaminants.
  • Taxpayers in the agglomeration: The decision summary says the expense would be paid 100% by the agglomeration.

Money#

The agreement’s maximum estimated cost is $545,740.34, taxes included.

  • The decision summary allocates $172,830.42 to year one, $181,108.62 to year two, and $191,801.30 to year three. Orders would be made as needs arise.
  • The sole compliant bid was 50% below the city’s estimate of $1,098,586.12. City staff say the estimate used prices from earlier purchases, which were higher because there was no agreement for those purchases.

What is unclear#

  • The materials do not give the quantities of each type of bag, the order volumes expected, or an exact start date.
  • The materials do not explain what would happen if the supplier’s performance evaluation finds problems.

Case for#

  • The bags would support SIM’s existing steps for handling and transporting equipment that may have been exposed to contaminants.
  • The sole compliant bid was below the city’s estimate, and the agreement would let SIM order supplies as needs arise.

Case against#

  • Only one bid met the requirements, so the materials provide no comparison with another compliant offer.
  • The bid was far below the estimate, but the estimate was based on earlier purchase prices. The materials do not show whether the estimate or the bid better reflects the expected cost.