UCDD Moving Food Delivery Service To Private Vendor

The Upper Cumberland Development District has signed a contract handing over meal deliveries to a private company.

Executive Director Mark Farley said that because of the agency’s structure, it became economically difficult to do meal deliveries. Farley said UCDD was lucky to find a local vendor who specializes in this service.

“There’s a reason why they’re getting those, because they are somewhat at risk,” Farley said. “Obviously, we want to make sure that they have all the resources they need. We’re going to continue to check on them weekly, to make sure that they’re receiving everything that they need.”

While the contract was signed on January 1, Farley said he expects delivery system to improve and clients should not notice a difference. He said clients will still be connected so they can let their needs be known.

“We’ve got our employees, during their down time or in between other calls,” Farley said. “They’re reaching out to a lot of our clients. Checking on them, making sure everything is going alright and if there’s any other services that they need.”

Farley said they are working in conjunction with the state and the vendor to assure quality of service.

“There are times that there are services that the private sector can provide and do so, far more economically than we can,” Farley said. “Obviously, if they can provide that service better than us, at a more reasonable price. It’s better to work with the private sector, rather than from a governmental standpoint.”

This service is provided to clients in Putnam, Van Buren, Cumberland, Dekalb, Smith and Macon county. Farley said the contract is with Institutional Wholesale, based in Cookeville.