Miami-Dade waived competitive bid to now bankrupt Osorio

From Eye on Miami 

A recent article in The Miami Herald noted that businessman Claudio Osorio filed for bankruptcy. Eye on Miami reported on its own adventure with the political mover and shaker. 

 

There is a Miami-Dade County connection (as always) to this bankruptcy. Claudio Osorio and his company were recipients of a 6/3/2010 bid wavier which offered up the POINCIANA INDUSTRIAL CENTER project to them. Ironically, they were given the bid in spite of the fact that one of their partners in the bid had criminal actions pending. InnoVida was allowed to replace the partner, instead of the county tossing the bid process and rebidding the RFP. 



 The best aspect of the whole county legislative recommendation was staff’s observation: 



“InnoVida’s proposal meets the requirement for creating jobs, provides for a viable business and real estate plan and is presented by a firm with good experience and financial ability.” 



 Need I mention that this legislative item was sponsored by Commissioner Dorrin Rolle (who lost his reelection last year) and was seconded by Commissioner Barbara Jordan. It passed by a vote of 9-0. (Commissioners Diaz, Sosa and Seijas and Chairman Moss were absent). Our new county manager, Alina Tejeda-Hudak, was the county staff person assigned to this item.



 InnoVida was deemed a solid company with a viable business plan in June 2010 by the County, but by March 19, 2011, it is bankrupt and according to the Miami Herald, “Their Chapter 11 filing in Miami’s federal bankruptcy court capped a series of lawsuits that accuse the Osorios of duping investors to put tens of millions of dollars into Claudio Osorio’s once-fledgling business venture, InnoVida, to pay for the couple’s lifestyle.”



 How much money did the county taxpayers contribute to their lifestyle? Don’t you think we have a right to know?