The City Commissioners approved another extension of the e-scootershare pilot program at their virtual meeting on April 8. The extension will allow micro-mobility service to continue without disruptions until permanent vendors are found.
The pilot program began in July 2019 with five vendors, and it was originally scheduled to end in October 2019. In January 2020, the Commissioners voted to extend the program either until permanent vendors are found or until April 2020, whichever comes first.
“It was anticipated that permanent vendors would be in place by the time the pilot ended,” staff reports.
A request for quotation for permanent vendors was issued following the January 2020 Commission meeting.
“This option did not take into account time to re-issue an RFQ if that was necessitated,” staff reports. “In this case, the initial bids for the permanent e-scootershare vendors were rejected to ensure all applicants have an opportunity to meet MWSBE (Minority, Women & Small Business Enterprise) aspirational targets.”
Staff reports that a second RFQ for permanent vendors is being prepared.
"A request for quotation for permanent vendors was issued following the January 2020 Commission meeting." ………………. This is APRIL. NO ONE has submitted a Request For Quotation For Permanent Vendors YET? Then WHY are you extending it, it's been 3 MONTHS, LET IT GO ALREADY.
"City Commissioners will vote on extending the e-scooter share pilot program until permanent micro-mobility vendors are found." …………………. WHAT? Until you find Permanent Micro-Mobility Vendors? Are you telling us that the FIVE Micro-Mobility Vendors that are ALREADY in place do NOT want to continue? If so, THAT should tell you something. This is what you should do. END the "Pilot Program" NOW. Set Guidelines for ANY Business wishing to do this so that the City, County & State can NOT be sued by the User and that the Companies have $Million Dollar Insurance Policies and let the Businesses come if they want with OUT any Government Financial Assistance just like all other small Businesses here in Tallahassee..
what are they charging $ per hour?
The devil is in the details... beware the taxpayer liability written into the plan.
WTH is MWSBE?
I learned in high screwel not to throw an obscure acronym into a story without writing it out on first reference.
Minority, Women & Small Business Enterprise
MWSBE... basically a "diversity" incentive/bonus resulting in an arbitrarily inflated ranking of a given business over others submitting for a contract. Most companies who know how to play the game simply put their company's name in their wife's name and whalaa... and unfair advantage for me!