Summary
Clauses related to bidders’ experience
Clauses restricting the market to large competitors
Specifications related to equipment
Investigation files
Call for tenders for exclusive towing services for wrecked, broken-down and offence-related vehicles
Professional court bailiff services
Road works in the boroughs
Security services
Entry into force of the complaint processing component of the Act respecting the Autorité des marchés publics (ARAMP)
Contaminated soil management
An analysis of the five phases of contaminated soil management – work design, environmental monitoring, execution, transportation and disposal of contaminated soil – revealed a variety of deficiencies and risk factors. Several recommendations were made in relation to these phases.
Message from the Inspector General of Montréal
Mayor Valérie Plante, Members of the City Council and the Agglomeration Council, and citizens of Montréal,
I am proud to submit to you the mid-year report of the Office of Inspector General for the period from January 1 to June 30, 2019, pursuant to the provisions of section 57.1.23 of the Charter of Ville de Montréal, metropolis of Québec. It reflects the efforts made by all members of the Office of Inspector General to carry out our mandate, which is to ensure the integrity of the award and performance of contracts by Ville de Montréal and related entities.
This report provides an opportunity to report on the upstream interventions taken by the Office of Inspector General during the tendering period. These provide the City with the opportunity to rectify the situation, if necessary, without cancelling the contract award process or incurring delays, additional costs or legal proceedings. A selection of these files is presented, dealing with clauses related to experience, those that would limit access to public procurement for smaller contractors, and those that require equipment that is not common in the industry.
The period covered by this report was also marked by the coming into effect of the complaint processing mechanism provided for in the Act respecting the Autorité des marchés publics. Having been entrusted with the application of this mechanism with respect to contracts to be awarded by Ville de Montréal and other related entities, the Office of Inspector General must now combine two laws with respect to contracting processes. Both the preparations for the entry into effect of this mandate and the training provided in this regard are outlined in the following pages.
It is also important to remember that all the powers and duties of the Office of Inspector General set out in the Charter of Ville de Montréal, metropolis of Québec and extending beyond the scope of the Act respecting the Autorité des marchés publics, particularly the aspect relating to the performance of contracts, remain in effect.
Lastly, this report will focus on the in-depth investigation of the management of contaminated soils under the City’s contracts. Given the main finding that management by municipal stakeholders is generally rigorous, this report is intended to be preventive by exposing some of the breaches noted and other latent risks observed, such as attempts by organized crime to infiltrate the industry and the availability of uncontrolled land ready to receive illegal dumping.
I would also like to acknowledge the cooperation of the fifty or so stakeholders representing each of the boroughs and four central services of the City during a meeting held at the end of the investigation. These discussions, which combined their field realities and their own expertise with the findings of the investigation, have led to the emergence of practical and realistic solutions.
The Inspector General,
Ms. Brigitte Bishop