Summary#
Montréal City Council adopted a position to award Global Payments Direct inc. a six-month, no-tender contract for in-person and online payment services, from June 1 to November 30, 2026. This is not yet the final award: the agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.
- The contract covers payment terminals at municipal service points, online payments and payments through parking meters.
- The approved contract amount is $2,575,299.51, taxes included. Council also authorized $382,115.55 for changes in quantities, bringing the total budget to $2,957,415.06.
- City staff say a temporary contract would keep payment services running while the city negotiates a longer-term contract.
- The staff summary says the temporary contract could renew automatically for another six months. The council’s resolution approves the June-to-November contract period.
What it means for you#
- People paying the city: If the contract is approved by the agglomeration council, debit and credit card payments at municipal service points, online and at some parking meters would continue under the arrangement.
- City administration: The Service des finances et de l’évaluation foncière would use Global for these services during the temporary contract.
- Residents and taxpayers: The decision does not change municipal fees or create a new payment requirement. It authorizes city spending on payment services.
Money#
The authorized total budget is $2,957,415.06, taxes included, for the six-month period.
- $2,575,299.51 is for the contract at Global’s offered prices; $382,115.55 is a 15% allowance for changes in quantities.
- City staff say the required budget credits are included in the Service des finances et de l’évaluation foncière’s budget and that the file has no impact on the city’s financial framework.
- The contract is awarded without a call for tenders; the materials give no competing bids or price comparison.
What is unclear#
- The council resolution sets the city’s position on the award. The final decision rests with the agglomeration council.
- The staff summary describes an automatic six-month renewal option, but the council resolution states the approved period as June 1 to November 30, 2026.
- The materials do not give the cost of the longer-term contract the city plans to negotiate.
Case for#
- A possible argument for the decision is that a temporary contract could prevent a break in card payments while the city negotiates a longer-term agreement.
- Global already provides the city’s merchant-account services under the previous contract, according to the staff summary.
- The temporary period is limited to six months, and the summary says the temporary contract ends when the new contract takes effect.
Case against#
- One concern is that the contract is awarded without a call for tenders, and the materials do not compare Global’s price with other offers.
- The additional $382,115.55 allowance increases the authorized budget, while the materials do not say how much of it is expected to be spent.
- The staff summary describes a possible automatic six-month renewal, which could extend the temporary arrangement beyond the stated initial term.