Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted a position on the decision titled Résilier unilatéralement le contrat accordé à AVI-SPL Canada ltée… (Unilaterally terminate the contract awarded to AVI-SPL Canada Ltd.). It asks the agglomeration council to terminate the contract and authorizes a city director to sign related documents; the agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. City staff say the goal is to end a contract whose technical requirements restricted competition and hold a new public call for tenders.
- The contract is for audiovisual equipment supplied on demand to meeting rooms, for 36 months and a maximum of $3,004,886.80, including contingency and taxes.
- It was awarded to AVI-SPL Canada Ltd. after a public call for tenders that received four bids. City staff say the lowest bidder’s bid was rejected for failing a technical requirement.
- The city’s controller general found that one of the 72 technical requirements limited the market and recommended ending the contract and issuing a new call for tenders.
- No orders have been placed under the contract. If it is terminated, the city would pay, if applicable, for purchases made under it up to the termination date.
What it means for you#
- City services and boroughs: While awaiting a new call for tenders, city staff say the city will buy equipment case by case, based on needs expressed by departments and boroughs.
- AVI-SPL Canada Ltd.: If the agglomeration council approves the proposed termination, the contract would end. The city director is authorized to sign documents related to it.
- Residents: The decision does not directly change a resident’s rights, taxes or services. The staff summary says the original contract was intended to equip meeting rooms for video calls and hybrid collaboration; that aim is not a guaranteed result.
Money#
The decision summary says no financial aspect applies, but it gives no estimate of any costs from ending the contract or buying equipment case by case.
- The original contract had a maximum value of $3,004,886.80, including contingency and taxes. No orders have been placed under it.
- The city would pay for purchases made under the contract up to the termination date, if any. The summary does not identify other termination costs.
What is unclear#
- The decision does not set out the terms or timing of the replacement call for tenders; city staff say it will be published during 2026.
- It does not give a budget or purchasing limits for the interim case-by-case buying.
- The materials do not estimate any other costs or explain whether AVI-SPL would receive compensation beyond payment for any purchases made.
Case for#
- One technical requirement reportedly limited the market. Ending the contract and holding a new public call for tenders could allow more products or suppliers to compete.
- The city’s controller general recommended termination after reviewing the procurement process.
- No orders have been placed, so ending the contract would not interrupt purchases already made under it.
Case against#
- Ending the contract may delay the planned equipment purchases while the city prepares and runs a new call for tenders.
- Case-by-case purchases in the meantime may be less predictable for city departments and boroughs; the materials do not explain how those purchases will be budgeted or coordinated.
- The decision does not state what the replacement tender will change to prevent the same competition concern.