The Tricentris cooperative will continue to take care of the management of recyclable materials in Laval, after the cancellation of the call for tenders in which the Ricova company had participated, which is considering legal action against the administration.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
This is a new step in a saga that has been going on for several months.
The City of Laval has become a member of the Tricentris solidarity cooperative, it announced on Monday, which has enabled it to conclude a new agreement by mutual agreement for the management of its recyclable materials, at a cost of 1, 8 million for three years.
However, the City had launched a call for tenders in November 2021 to obtain these services. Ricova had submitted a bid for 2.1 million, while Tricentris had offered to take care of it for a price of 2.4 million, according to the electronic tendering system of the Quebec government.
Solidarity cooperative
But in the meantime, on March 15, Tricentris was designated as an organization subject to the Cities and Towns Act by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, indicates the City of Laval. The Ministry of Economy and Innovation has also given its consent for Tricentris to continue its activities as a solidarity cooperative.
“Given these new developments, it is now possible for a municipality to enter into an agreement by mutual agreement with Tricentris, a solidarity cooperative,” explains the administration, in the press release announcing the agreement.
The City is also pleased to obtain, as a member, a seat on the cooperative’s board of directors as well as services related to information, awareness and education.
This is why the call for tenders previously launched has been cancelled.
Legal remedies
But Ricova does not hear it that way. “At this time, we are analyzing legal remedy options,” the company’s communications team said in an emailed response. As the lowest compliant bidder, Ricova feels it should have won the contract.
Remember that Ricova’s reputation has been damaged by several revelations in recent weeks.
In February, Radio-Canada reported that heavily contaminated bales of paper were being sold in India and burned in environmentally harmful conditions.
Then, in March, Montreal’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) filed a damning report against Ricova, accusing the company of fraudulent tactics to deprive the city of millions of dollars. The BIG recommended that Montreal terminate contracts with Ricova “as soon as possible” and that the company and its leader, Dominic Colubriale, be banned from public contracts in Montreal for five years.
The Inspector General forwarded the case to the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit to determine whether a criminal investigation is warranted.
These revelations of course caused concern in Laval.
“I have taken note of the investigations of the Inspector General of Montreal and the investigation office of Radio-Canada,” said the mayor of Laval, Stéphane Boyer, in a statement sent by email. “Of course, these raised several questions in my mind. Fortunately, I will not even need to address them since we will accept the offer of the Tricentris cooperative [au conseil municipal de mardi soir] “.