GAINESVILLE, FL: Dr. Joseph Geunes, Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering, has received a one-year grant for the United States Department of Agriculture to analyze and study the USDA School Lunch and Food Bank Distribution in the State of Florida.  Geunes and his research team will perform a model-based evaluation of the program administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). This analysis will provide recommendations on the structure and operation of the food distribution network (including inventory and delivery policies), which consists of recipient agencies (school districts and food banks) and contracted warehouses. The researchers will propose modifications to both the distribution network and the Invitation to Bid (ITB) that is used for the bidding process for contracted warehousing. The goal is to increase the competitiveness among the warehousing and delivery contractors and improve operational performance for the entire distribution network.