Summary#
Montréal city council approved two three-year contracts for seasonal rental of nine vacuum street sweepers, without operators and with maintenance. The goal, according to city staff, is to support street cleaning in spring, summer and fall.
- Accessoires Outillage Limitée will supply seven sweepers for up to $2,545,464.13; Entretiens J.R. Villeneuve inc. will supply two for up to $725,998.14. These contract amounts include taxes but exclude contingencies.
- The City also approved $490,719.34, taxes included, for contingencies, bringing the total authorized spending to $3,762,181.61.
- The sweepers are assigned to Ahuntsic-Cartierville (4), Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (3), LaSalle (1) and Ville-Marie (1).
- The City must evaluate the two suppliers’ performance. Contract prices are fixed, and the suppliers must maintain and repair the equipment; the City pays for fuel.
What it means for you#
- Residents: The decision funds seasonal street-cleaning equipment in four boroughs. It does not change residents’ rights, fees or taxes directly.
- City: The Service du matériel roulant et des ateliers will use the sweepers. The rental is stated as eight months per year, from March 15 to November 30, in 2026–2028. Each machine is limited to 1,600 sweeping hours per season.
- Suppliers: The contracts were awarded through public call for tenders 25-21257. Four firms obtained the tender documents and two submitted bids; both were compliant. Accessoires Outillage received the seven newest machines, while Villeneuve received the two remaining, lower-cost options. The suppliers must handle maintenance and repairs. The City may request two additional weeks of rental per year.
Money#
The City authorized spending of up to $3,762,181.61, taxes included.
- This comprises $3,271,462.27 for the contracts and $490,719.34 for contingencies. The money will come from the operating budget of the Service du matériel roulant et des ateliers.
- The City also pays fuel costs. No fuel-cost estimate is provided.
- One firm that did not bid told the City it could not meet the delivery schedule; the other did not respond. City staff say the bid prices were close to the latest estimate.
What is unclear#
- The decision does not state whether the City will use the optional extra two weeks each year, or what that would cost.
- No separate estimate is given for fuel or for the total cost if contingencies are used.
- The decision summary says the rental season runs from March 15 to November 30, while also describing it as eight months.
Case for#
- The contracts provide nine seasonal sweepers, with maintenance and repairs included, for street-cleaning operations in four boroughs.
- City staff say the tender prices were close to the City’s estimate, and the awarded firms submitted compliant bids.
- Fixed prices for the contract term provide price certainty for the rental portion.
Case against#
- Only two bids were submitted, limiting the number of offers the City could compare. One of the two other firms that obtained the documents said it could not meet the delivery schedule.
- The City must also pay fuel, and the materials do not estimate that cost.
- The City approved a contingency budget, but the materials do not say how much of it will be needed.