Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously awarded a four-year contract to ESII Canada inc., from August 19, 2026, to August 18, 2030. The contract covers use and maintenance of the city’s queue-management and online appointment system at Accès Montréal offices, permit offices, and municipal court service points.
- The $440,703.52 contract, taxes included, was awarded directly to ESII as the exclusive supplier.
- It covers 29 service points and includes system use, support and maintenance, thermal paper, and maintenance of kiosks and video controllers.
- Maintenance of screens and printers is excluded; city staff say those generic devices can be serviced by other suppliers.
- A city director is authorized to sign documents related to the contract.
What it means for you#
- People using these city services: The existing queue and appointment system is to remain in use at the covered locations. City staff say it helps manage demand and appointments; the decision does not guarantee shorter waits.
- The city: It must pay ESII under the contract. The contract is for the existing system, not a new public service or a new right to appointments.
Money#
The contract costs $440,703.52, taxes included; the city says this is $402,421.06 net of taxes.
- The expense is charged to the Information Technology Department’s operating budget and is paid entirely by the central city.
- The city estimated the cost at $321,732.63, taxes included. ESII’s price is 37% above that estimate.
- The city’s estimate used cumulative price indexation since 2020 and assumed 2.5% annual indexation for 2027–2029.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not explain whether the city considered other ways to continue the service or negotiate a lower price.
- They do not provide measured results for wait times, complaints, or service quality under the current system.
Case for#
- City staff say continuity is important to keep the service operating without interruption.
- ESII owns the system’s source code and exclusive technology rights, according to city staff. They say only ESII can make changes and provide the required support and maintenance.
- The contract leaves maintenance of generic screens and printers open to other suppliers.
Case against#
- The direct award means there was no competitive call for tenders for this contract, and the city’s estimate was 37% below ESII’s price.
- City staff point to inflation, higher specialized labour costs, and the end of a long-term contract as possible reasons for the price gap. The materials do not show whether another option could have reduced the cost.