Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted its position on exercising the first 12-month extension of three park-maintenance contracts with SOGEP inc. and authorizing additional spending. It supports extending the contracts and adding $3,400,298.84, taxes included; the agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.
- The extension would run from November 1, 2026, to October 31, 2027, raising the three contracts’ combined total to $14,961,805.77, taxes included.
- SOGEP inc. would continue maintaining equipment and natural areas in the city’s regional parks (parcs-nature), across the West, Centre and East sectors.
- The work includes general upkeep, equipment maintenance, and horticultural and natural-area work. It may also include some work in newly acquired park areas.
- The 2023 contracts followed a public call for tenders that received one bid. The materials do not say whether it was the lowest compliant bid.
What it means for you#
- Park visitors: The decision concerns maintenance of regional parks, including upkeep and repairs. City staff say these contracts support park access and safety; the decision does not itself guarantee a particular service level.
- Residents: The materials say the parks are free to access. This decision does not change that, or create a new resident application or approval process.
Money#
The proposed extension costs $3,400,298.84, taxes included; the agglomeration would fund up to $3,104,926.07, net of tax rebates.
- The total for all three contracts would rise from $11,561,506.93 to $14,961,805.77, taxes included.
- The extension amount includes a 2.8% price index adjustment. The staff report says this is below the 3% increase assumed when the original contract was estimated.
- No contingency budget or change in quantities is included.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not give service-level measures, detailed performance results, or a comparison with other options for the extension.
- The contracts cover three large park sectors, but the materials do not say how work will be divided among specific sites during the extension.
Case for#
- City staff say they are satisfied with SOGEP’s service and recommend using the extension option already included in the contracts.
- Staff say the current contracts end on October 31, 2026, and that delaying or refusing the extension could put park operations and safety at risk, including possible site closures.
- The price adjustment is 2.8%, below the 3% increase assumed in the original estimate.
Case against#
- The original public tender received only one bid, so the materials show limited competition for these contracts.
- The decision would continue the same supplier for another year, but the materials provide no detailed performance measures or comparison of the cost with other options.