The federal government has extended Bank of Montreal’s MERX online public sector tendering contract, allowing the bank to operate the MERX service through to May 31, 2004.

The extension will enable suppliers from across Canada to continue to use the MERX service to bid on more than $12 billion dollars annually in government contracts. As part of the extension, a new price structure will be introduced on June 1, to reflect the current market. Customers will spend $29.95 per month, plus discretionary document fees, to access tenders and the associated documents for more than 1,700 tendering opportunities
available daily.

BMO says that by using the MERX service, many government purchasers have reduced acquisition costs by 10% to 15% and some buyers have reported savings of up to 50% on advertising costs, stationery and copier supplies.