Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted a position asking the agglomeration council to award Nautic & Art inc. a contract for a harbour patrol boat and trailer for the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM). The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. City staff say the purchase is intended to support police work in the Port of Montréal.
- The proposed contract is for $1,156,503.63, taxes included, plus a $173,475.54 contingency budget, taxes included.
- The boat and trailer would be supplied by the sole bidder found compliant, Nautic & Art inc.; delivery is due by March 1, 2027.
- The city’s position also calls for an evaluation of the company’s performance.
What it means for you#
- Public safety: If the agglomeration council approves the contract, the SPVM would receive a rigid-hulled inflatable patrol boat and trailer for port-area missions.
- Taxpayers: The agglomeration would bear 100% of the expense, financed through borrowing bylaw RCG 26-009. The decision does not directly change residents’ rights, fees or services.
Money#
The proposed total authorization is $1,329,979.17, taxes included.
- The contract itself is $1,156,503.63; the contingency is $173,475.54, or 15% of the contract amount. The contingency is for possible added accessories or equipment and is not necessarily all spent.
- City staff’s estimate for the contract was 11.79% below the bid price, excluding contingencies. The materials say staff attributed the difference mainly to higher material, labour and import costs.
- The agglomeration would pay the full expense through the borrowing bylaw. No estimate of ongoing operating costs is provided.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not say how much of the contingency, if any, will be used.
- No publicly available information is provided about the boat’s ongoing fuel, maintenance or staffing costs.
Case for#
- City staff say the boat would support SPVM missions in the port, including access to places that are difficult or impossible to reach otherwise.
- Staff say not acquiring it could affect SPVM service. The proposed boat is designed for intensive use, day and night, in all weather.
Case against#
- There was only one compliant bid. Five of the six companies that obtained the tender documents did not bid; reasons included concerns about restrictive conditions or technical ambiguity, and not having a suitable product.
- The bid was 11.79% above staff’s estimate, excluding contingencies, and the proposal adds a further contingency budget.