Item - 2026.GG29.12

The General Government Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services to negotiate and enter into a contract with RideShark Corporation for the amount of $75,000 net of all taxes and charges ($76,320 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries), to provide a software license for a shared Smart Commute Online Tool for a period of one (1) year from the effective date of the agreement to December 31, 2026, with the option to renew for four (4) additional one (1) year periods, at the sole discretion of the City, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Transportation Services and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

The purpose of this report is to request City Council authority to negotiate and enter into a non-competitive contract with RideShark Corporation in the amount of $75,000 net of all taxes and applicable charges ($76,320 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries) for the Smart Commute Program.

The Smart Commute Program has delivered Transportation Demand Management services in Toronto since 2005, helping employers and commuters shift to sustainable travel options such as walking, cycling, transit, carpooling and remote work. The program supports reduced single-occupant vehicle trips to ease congestion, improve air quality and lower greenhouse gas emissions. In 2021, with City Council authority, the City entered into a collaborative agreement with Regional Municipal Partners across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, resulting in the non-competitive procurement of the Smart Commute Online Tool from RideShark Corporation as a shared, region-wide commute management platform.

Transportation Services is now seeking City Council authority to enter into a further non-competitive agreement of up to five (5) years with RideShark Corporation to continue delivering the Smart Commute Online Tool in partnership with the eight (8) other participating municipalities.

A non-competitive procurement may be undertaken where both the proposed procurement and supplier can be justified in good faith based on an exception set out in Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 195, Procurement. This procurement will be proceeding under the exception related to Exclusive Rights, where RideShark Corporation, and the City have determined in good faith that both the proposed procurement and the selected supplier, along with the terms and conditions of the contract, are beneficial to the City (Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 195, Procurement, Section 7.1.C).

City Council approval is required in accordance with Municipal Code Chapter 195, Procurement, where the current request exceeds the Chief Procurement Officer’s authority of the cumulative five-year (5) commitment for each supplier, under Article 7, Section 195-7.3 (D) of the Procurement By-Law or exceeds the threshold of $500,000 net of Harmonized Sales Tax allowed under staff authority as per the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 71 Financial Control, Section 71-11A.