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Rideshare - why the controversy?

18 Mar 2026 12:04 PM | Anonymous

The Village began an electric vehicle ridesharing services pilot program in “Downtown Islamorada” in 2018. The Village has expanded it several times to provide the better services through the entire Village and to Tavernier Towne and the Tavernier medical services. Cost annually is now $553,400 with an FDOT grant covering 50%.

Freebee has provided the service since 2018 but has never been selected via a competitive bid process as required by state and federal grants and by Village code.


Recently FDOT questioned the Village as to the procurement process and competitive bidding during a compliance review.  


The Village Manager received an email recommendation from the Village lobbyist providing reasons why the Village should extend the contract with Freebee another year without competitive bidding.  Why is the lobbyist involved?


The Village did not follow the suggestion and on March 12 issued an RFP, “Request for Proposal.”  A selection committee appointed by the Village Manager will rank the proposals received and recommend to council a rideshare company for the next year.


Will the staff selection committee and council be influenced by the lengthy list of reasons the lobbyist provided encouraging the Village to continue with Freebee?  Click here for email from the lobbyist.


We think required competitive bidding is overdue - by about 8 years!What’s the controversy?
 


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