Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously approved the City’s position to conclude four framework agreements for preventive maintenance and repairs of heavy vehicles. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. City staff say the agreements aim to support vehicle availability and help workshops manage their workload.
- The proposed agreements are with Ressort Idéal ltée for Lot 1 (East) and Le Groupe Guy inc. for Lots 2, 3 and 4 (West, South and Centre).
- The work includes mechanical inspections under the City’s Programme d’Entretien Préventif (Preventive Maintenance Program), and related checks and repairs when needed.
- Each agreement would last 12 months, with two possible 12-month extensions. Renewal requires written notice at least 30 days before expiry and the contractor’s consent.
- The firms would provide services when requested; the City does not promise to order all the quantities listed.
- The resolution requires the City to evaluate both firms’ performance.
What it means for you#
- City services: The agreements would cover heavy vehicles serving the listed boroughs and City services, including the Service de l’eau (Water Service) and fire services. This is an operating contract, not a new public service for residents.
- Contractors: Ressort Idéal ltée would serve Lot 1; Le Groupe Guy inc. would serve Lots 2–4. The City selected the lowest compliant bid for each lot.
- Taxpayers: The City would pay for services as needed from the budgets of the Service du matériel roulant et des ateliers (Rolling Stock and Workshops Service). The amount actually ordered could be below the listed quantities.
Money#
The agreements are estimated at $2,280,195.79, taxes included; the resolution also authorizes $297,416.85, taxes included, for contingencies.
- The four lot amounts are $640,656.80, $446,460.57, $301,809.38 and $593,852.20, taxes included and excluding contingencies, quantity changes and related impacts.
- The contingency budget is additional to the lot amounts. The resolution says expenses will be charged to the service’s budgets as needs arise.
- The tender was public. The material reports five bids for Lots 1 and 4, and three for Lots 2 and 3; two bids for Lots 1 and 4 were administratively non-compliant.
- The four lot amounts add to $1,982,778.95; adding the stated contingency gives $2,280,195.80, one cent more than the title’s estimated total.
What is unclear#
- The City does not have to order all the listed quantities, so the final spending is not known.
- The material does not give a separate estimate for the cost of evaluating contractor performance.
- The one-cent difference between the title’s total and the amounts in the resolution is unexplained.
Case for#
- City staff say the work is needed to support the availability and reliability of heavy vehicles and equipment.
- Dividing the work into four geographic lots may help workshops manage their workload. City staff say the split was intended to open the market to more bidders.
- The City chose the lowest compliant bid for each lot, and the agreements let it order services as needs arise rather than committing to all listed quantities.
Case against#
- The number of bids was limited: three for each of Lots 2 and 3, and five for each of Lots 1 and 4, including non-compliant bids.
- The agreements allow two extensions and price adjustments tied to the Montréal consumer price index. The total cost over any extensions is not stated.
- Because the City does not promise to order the listed quantities, the agreements’ value is an estimate, not a guaranteed level of work.