Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted its position to award Les Entreprises Charles Maisonneuve ltée. a contract for infrastructure and streetscape work in Griffintown, in the Sud-Ouest borough. The decision also sets out a total expenditure of $18,342,120.64, taxes included. The stated goal, according to city staff, is to renew infrastructure and improve the streets and public spaces. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.
- The proposed contract covers work on rue William between rue Ann and boulevard Robert-Bourassa, rue de l’Inspecteur between rue Notre-Dame and rue William, and some lighting work on rue Ottawa.
- The proposed contract price is $14,202,774.14, taxes included. The decision also includes $2,130,416.12 for contingencies and $2,008,930.38 for additional project costs.
- The work includes water and sewer pipes, roads and sidewalks, electrical infrastructure, lighting, traffic signals, trees and planting. The phase 1 work on parc Mary-Griffin is conditional on partner authorization.
- The contract would go to the lowest compliant bid in a public call for tenders. Four firms submitted compliant bids. Council’s position also requires an evaluation of the contractor’s performance.
What it means for you#
- People walking, driving or living in Griffintown: The planned work would rebuild roads and sidewalks, add planting and change some street layouts. City staff say the design would reduce space for cars to make more room for pedestrian comfort and safety, while keeping on-street parking.
- Residents and businesses nearby: The decision covers major water and sewer work as well as street construction. The materials do not give a construction schedule or describe how access and disruption would be handled.
- Taxpayers: The proposed expenditure is $18,342,120.64, taxes included. The materials do not identify how that amount would be divided among city and agglomeration budgets.
- The contractor: The proposed contract includes a delay penalty of 0.05% of the contract price, excluding taxes and contingency funds, for each late day, with a minimum of $1,000 per day. No bonus is предусмотрed in the tender documents.
- This decision does not itself impose a new tax or fee on residents.
Money#
The city council’s adopted position is to authorize total spending of $18,342,120.64, taxes included.
- The contract price is $14,202,774.14, taxes included; the contingencies budget is $2,130,416.12, taxes included; and the budget for additional project costs is $2,008,930.38, taxes included.
- The selected bid was 4% above the city’s latest estimate of $13,656,857.75. It was $3,717,225.86, or 26.17%, below the second-lowest compliant bid.
- The materials provide no breakdown of the funding source or estimate of the city’s staffing or oversight costs.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not give the contract duration, start date or work schedule.
- They do not explain how the total expenditure would be split between the city and the agglomeration.
- The phase 1 work on parc Mary-Griffin depends on partner authorization; the materials do not identify the partners or the approval process.
- The decision refers to a budget for “incidences” but does not explain what costs it covers.
Case for#
- City staff say the sewer work would help prevent overloaded pipes and overflows.
- The project combines water, sewer and electrical work with street repairs, sidewalks, lighting and planting.
- The proposed design would retain on-street parking while making room for wider sidewalks where possible and more greenery.
- The selected bid was the lowest compliant one, and the other three compliant bids were substantially higher.
Case against#
- The total proposed expenditure is substantial, and the selected bid was 4% above the city’s latest estimate.
- Only four of the 23 firms that obtained the tender documents submitted bids. The materials say some firms had full work schedules or considered the bidding period too short, but do not establish whether the number of bids affected the price.
- The materials do not explain the funding split, construction timing or how the city will limit disruption during the work.