The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) provides USDA-purchased foods (USDA Foods) to income eligible households on Indian reservations and to Native American families residing in designated areas near reservations and in the State of Oklahoma. The standard distribution model is one in which USDA purchases approved foods that are then shipped from two national warehouses to Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) for pick-up by tribal members. In 2012, the Food and Nutrition Service created a pilot program using a regional vendor that assumed the responsibilities for purchasing and shipping FDPIR foods to four ITOs in Oklahoma. This report assesses that pilot and includes a qualitative evaluation of the vendor and ITO experiences and an assessment of pilot costs.
