Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously set its position in favour of adding $702,262.99, taxes included, to the existing framework agreement with Conseillers en gestion et informatique CGI inc. for digital-solution development services. This would raise the agreement’s total authorized amount to $6,298,929.81, taxes included. City staff say the increase is intended to maintain capacity and avoid interruptions to ongoing projects; the agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.
- The extra amount would add 5,625 hours of intermediate-level services and 3,375 hours of advanced-level services.
- The agreement was originally awarded after a public call for tenders that received five bids. The materials do not say whether CGI’s bid was the lowest compliant bid.
- The added hours are for increased needs in those two expertise levels. The original agreement was expected to run until March 2028.
What it means for you#
- Residents and businesses: The decision does not directly change your rights, fees, or access to city services. Staff identify planned work such as online permit services, a new citizen-relations system, and digital platforms for Espace pour la vie.
- City IT staff and service teams: The additional hours would provide more contracted development capacity. The decision does not guarantee a particular project or service improvement.
- Taxpayers: The city can draw on the added amount as needs arise; the full amount is not stated to be an immediate payment.
Money#
The decision authorizes up to $702,262.99 in additional spending, taxes included; the materials give no estimate of how much will ultimately be used.
- Spending would be charged to the IT Service’s budgets as needs arise, through purchase orders and in line with the city’s delegation rules.
- City staff say funding is available in the capital works program or the IT Service’s operating budget. Some costs may be shared as agglomeration expenses; the specific split is not yet known.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not state how many hours will actually be purchased or how the additional amount will be divided between intermediate- and advanced-level work.
- They do not give a date or details for the next contract, beyond saying the added capacity is meant to last until a new contract is awarded.
- The materials do not identify the lowest compliant bidder in the original tender.
Case for#
- City staff say demand for intermediate- and advanced-level work is rising and that extra hours would help prevent interruptions to ongoing projects.
- The added capacity could support knowledge transfer before a new contract begins.
Case against#
- The agreement’s authorized total would increase, but the materials do not estimate the final spending or identify how much of the extra capacity will be needed.
- The city is adding hours to an existing agreement rather than describing a new tender for this additional work; the materials do not explain what alternatives were considered.