Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted an orientation to conclude a 36-month framework agreement with M3P Conseils inc. for specialized IT architecture services. This is not yet the final decision to award the contract: the agglomeration council makes that decision at a later meeting. City staff say the goal is to support the City’s data-centre and cloud infrastructure work.
- If approved, the agreement would let the City order services from M3P as needs arise, up to a maximum of $603,618.75, taxes included.
- The services cover the design and management of data-centre infrastructure and cloud services (IaaS and PaaS: infrastructure and platform provided as services).
- M3P received the highest final score under the pre-set selection criteria. The public call for tenders received six bids; four were compliant. M3P’s price was the lowest among the four compliant bids.
- The City must evaluate M3P’s performance. The resolution does not set out a renewal option.
What it means for you#
- City residents and taxpayers: The decision does not directly change public services, taxes, fees, or residents’ rights. It would allow the City to buy specialized IT advice for its own infrastructure projects.
- City IT staff: If the agreement is approved, they could call on M3P for the specified services as needs arise. City staff say the arrangement is meant to add capacity while keeping the City in control of its operations, expertise, and technology decisions.
- City budgets: Spending would be authorized as specific needs arise, using budgets already assigned to IT projects or operations. Some spending may be shared across agglomeration responsibilities.
Money#
The proposed agreement has a maximum amount of $603,618.75, taxes included; the materials do not give a forecast of how much will actually be spent.
- No spending is charged to a budget just by setting up the framework agreement. Each purchase would need spending authorization and a purchase order.
- The money would come from existing IT capital-project or operating budgets. The split between city and agglomeration spending would be determined when each need is identified.
- M3P’s bid was 25% below the City’s latest estimate and 28.57% below the next-highest-scoring firm’s bid.
What is unclear#
- How much of the maximum amount the City will use, and which projects will require the services.
- How spending will be divided between city and agglomeration responsibilities.
- The materials do not state a renewal option or give a breakdown of costs by service or project.
Case for#
- A framework agreement lets the City order specialized expertise when needed, rather than committing the full amount at the outset.
- M3P had the highest final score and the lowest price among the four compliant bids.
- City staff say the services could support reliable, secure infrastructure and help the IT department address capacity and technology needs.
Case against#
- Only four of the six bids received were compliant, and nine of the 15 firms that took the tender documents did not bid. The materials report that some cited limited capacity, resources, or time.
- The agreement sets a sizeable spending ceiling, but the materials do not say how much of it the City expects to use or identify the projects that will draw on it.