Surety bonds for contractors

Get the support you need to guarantee the success of your project

Our Unique services

  • Available for small- to medium-sized businesses
  • Affordable: Very competitive annual fees
  • Flexible: No minimum required as to net worth of the business
  • Available to start-up companies
  • Team dedicated to Bureau des soumissions déposées du Québec contracts

Types of surety bonds

  • Bid bond
    A bid bond is the instrument by which the surety, in the event that the contractor refuses to sign a contract with the client, will make the client a cash payment—up to the amount stated in the bond—to cover the difference between the amount of the bid and the amount of the contract signed with another bidder, if the latter amount is higher.
  • Letter of commitment
    A letter of commitment is often complementary to a bid bond.  It is the instrument by which the surety undertakes to issue the required sureties in the bidder's name, if the bid is accepted and the bidder signs a contract with the client.
  • Performance bond
    A performance bond is the instrument by which the surety undertakes—up to the amount stated in the bond—to guarantee completion of the contract in the event that the contractor is unable to honour the terms of the construction contract.
  • Labour & material payment bond
    A labour and material bond is the instrument by which the surety guarantees that all eligible claimants, whether subcontractors or suppliers, will receive payment for labour and material provided to the contractor in the framework of the construction work.
  • Maintenance surety
    A maintenance surety is the instrument by which the surety guarantees to maintain in good working order or have maintained in good working order the work completed under the contract, except for obsolescence or normal wear.
  • Supplies & material bond

Request to open a file

If your client is interested in using our surety bond services, a Contractor Application form must be filled out, and the necessary documents for considering the application must be provided.

Assessing the risk allows us to establish the conditions, the rates and a limit per project, as well as applicable limits for work in progress.  The above will be submitted to you in a written confirmation.

If the proposed rates, conditions and limits are acceptable to your client, an indemnity agreement will be forwarded for signature.

Rating

Our rating is tailored to your client's specific situation. We charge an annual file management fee that covers the cost of assessing, updating and managing your client’s file for one year. We also offer packages that include a predetermined or unlimited number of bid bonds based on the annual premium generated. 

Bid bonds: Price per unit, although discounts are available on multiple purchases. 

Performance or Labour and Material Payment Bonds: Rate per $1,000 of amount contracted.

Your confirmation that the application has been accepted will be accompanied by a rate chart established specifically for your client, based on the overall risk assessment.

Underwriting

Your client’s file assessment is based on information that allows us to establish the ability of the business to honour its contractual agreements and financial commitments.

The financial development of the business, the quality of its management, its experience and the credibility of its shareholders and key personnel, as well as the nature and scope of completed contracts are among the factors that will be taken into consideration.

The particular characteristics of the client’s business sector and the extent and/or quality of its equipment inventory will be taken into consideration based on your client’s objectives.

Bond request

To solidify an ongoing business relationship, brokers should maintain regular contact with their bonding company.

The broker remains the contractor's principal point of contact.  He or she receives and forwards duly completed applications for surety bonds and all documentation necessary to their issuance.

Bid bond:

The Bid Bond Request Form must be completed and submitted with a copy of the bidder's estimate or the call for tender pertaining to the guarantee or surety.

Tender results: Whatever the outcome of the bid, the results must be forwarded to the bonding company, which in turn will adjust the total amount of the work in progress in order to maintain access to the bond's maximum threshold.

Performance and Labour and Material Payment Bond:

The Performance Bond Request Form must be completed and the tender's results provided before the bonds can be issued.

Dedicated BSDQ team

Construction subcontractors who tender mainly for Bureau des soumissions déposées du Québec (BSDQ) contracts can take advantage of accelerated processing. We have also streamlined the list of documents required for assessing these files.

We are Unique in that we are the only insurer to have a team dedicated to BSDQ files.  By having such a team, we can guarantee that you will receive an answer within two days following receipt of all documentation required for your file. 

L'Unique's surety bond team is at your service and is dedicated to helping contractors grow.

The advantages of doing business with L’Unique for your BSDQ tenders:

  • Specially dedicated underwriters
  • Accelerated service and processing
  • Guidance to brokers not familiar with this product
  • Electronic, paperless surety bonds
  • Option for delegating authority to broker
  • Availability to start-up companies
  • Awareness of the reality of small-sized contractors

Our two underwriters who are assigned to BSDQ files are available to provide any additional information required.

Quebec City:
Dominic Gingras
dominic.gingras@lunique.qc.ca
418 683-2711, Ext. 32517

Montreal:
Dominic Gosselin
dominic.gosselin@lunique.qc.ca
514 768-0707, Ext. 32412