Five months have passed since the municipal concession was granted to a single company, which is the sole authorised operator of electric scooters for rent in Orihuela Costa. However, their implementation is proving to be no less contentious than the bidding process.
The contract award has been the subject of criticism from numerous companies in the sector. The service was intended to be streamlined by having a single operator administer the entire offering. However, many argue that the contract has numerous shortcomings and continues to have gaps in its implementation. This has resulted in an increasing number of companies contemplating the termination of the contract and the absence of electric scooters in the Costa del Sol if the current situation persists.
MGC Clean Energy, which operates under the commercial name Vamoz, is the winning bidder in the rental service contract for these types of vehicles. These vehicles are in high demand along the coast due to the dispersed nature of housing developments and the lack of public transport. However, the contract is generating increasing controversy due to potential breaches of contract. This name is present on the vehicles that were recently dispersed to various locations, despite the fact that the service was intended to commence in December and the entire fleet was to be deployed by January 10th, as stipulated in the contract’s own terms and conditions. The contract requires that 750 scooters be present on the streets during the prime season, with the potential for an increase to 1,200.
According to the tender specifications, the contract may be terminated or the utmost fine imposed if the service is not initiated within the specified timeframe. The concessionaire received the highest technical score in the bidding process for the features of a customer identification number form, ID photo capture, data monitoring, and regular communication with security authorities. However, the mobile application that the company had promised was unavailable if the scooters were unavailable.
The delay is attributed to circumstances beyond the company’s control by municipal sources, who contend that it is not a valid reason for contract termination. This pertains to the most recent regulations of the DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic) regarding civil liability and insurance for these types of vehicles, which caused a delay in the process until the successful bidder obtained a €600,000 policy that corresponded to the new regulatory requirements. However, the sector is requesting that the City Council disclose the specific reviews that were conducted to confirm this coverage.
Plates of identification
Vamoz has recently deployed its fleet using a certificate from an additional company, whose name is even visible on the identification plates of the vehicles that are currently visible on the coast. This is another purported irregularity. The scooters operated by the concessionaire, which are adorned with the City Council’s coat of arms, are registered with a DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic) certification code that corresponds to a model that was approved for the international operator Bolt, which also participated in the tender but was unsuccessful. This code is not specific to Vamoz. Bolt is, in fact, contemplating legal action in court as a consequence.
Additionally, this could imply that the insurer may decline to process claims if they are not reported by Bolt.
Until now, the model’s approval and technical compliance were sufficient; however, regulations mandate that each vehicle be registered in the DGT’s (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic) Register of Light Personal Vehicles beginning this year. This document documents the proprietor, the model, and the validity of the mandatory insurance. In other words, it functions similarly to a diminutive licence plate that announces the vehicle’s presence to the public.
The fleet
Additionally, there are concerns about the fleet’s age, which is a critical tender criterion. The tender specifications necessitated that 80% of the vehicles be new, with the remaining 20% being less than two years old. Vamoz achieved the greatest score for this criterion. Nevertheless, the documentation provided by the company itself appears to pertain to second-hand vehicles that have already undergone annual technical inspections, which could raise concerns regarding the accuracy of the information provided during the tendering process.
Furthermore, there is the specific model of vehicles that were deployed, as the technical offer that was presented to the City Council referenced specific models of scooters. However, the models were distinct from those offered in the competition on the ground.
Infrastructure
The company also pledged to establish an infrastructure that includes two vans that are equipped with the necessary equipment, a local base of approximately 100 square metres on the coast, up to seven full-time operators who provide 24-hour coverage during peak season, a qualified mechanic, battery rotation with one spare battery for every two scooters, and weekly reports from the supervisor that are submitted to the City Council. These reports will cover battery changes, incidents, and maintenance plan updates. In fact, the tender specifications mandate that the successful bidder guarantee that the scooters are returned to the specified parking areas—approximately 200—after each use. This is to prevent them from being abandoned on sidewalks and other locations that obstruct traffic and cause complaints from residents.
By contract, he is also required to pay half of the fee prior to July 1st.
Competitive bidding
The contract was issued for tender in December 2024; however, it was not awarded until nearly a year later. Ride Dott, Go2 Place, and Hoppylectrico submitted bids in addition to MGC Clean Energy and Bolt. Additionally, Hoppylectrico and Superpedestrian established a joint venture; however, both were disqualified from the process for violating the tender clause, which prohibits each bidder from submitting more than one proposal. This resulted in four of the initial six candidates remaining.
Go2 Place was awarded the highest score and proposed a €74,000 annual fee to the City Council for the use of municipal public land. However, the formal submission was disqualified after the requisite guarantee was deposited due to a defect. The contract was subsequently awarded to the second-highest vendor, who submitted an offer that was nearly half the price (€41,200). However, the first-place bidder filed an appeal with the contract tribunal, which ultimately declined to accept the appeal in February.
Public authorities are required to provide equal treatment, according to sources within the sector. In other words, they emphasise that “The City Council cannot demand strict formal compliance during the bidding phase and simultaneously tolerate substantial breaches of contract during the execution phase.”
Several companies are requesting that the City Council conduct an urgent review of the file and the execution of the contract, as well as a comprehensive investigation to ascertain whether the essential conditions of the public tender have been violated, due to the accumulation of potential contractual transgressions.
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