Active Communities - Effective States (ACES)

USAID is operating Active Communities - Effective States (ACES), a multiple-award Master IDIQ established September 30, 2021, that provides technical assistance, advisory services, training, and direct program implementation to support host-country good governance, transparency, and accountability. Ordering authority extends through January 31, 2029. The vehicle carries a shared ceiling of $475 million but is unrestricted—no set-aside designation applies at the vehicle level, though individual task orders may carry small-business set-asides.

The vehicle successor to Encouraging Global Anticorruption and Good Governance Efforts (2008). ACES has demonstrated consistent ordering momentum, with 18 task orders awarded to date across a combined potential value of $383.8 million; 40% of that potential ($151.8 million) has been obligated. Recent ordering tempo shows 3 awards in 2022, 9 in 2023, and 6 in 2024, with the most recent award issued September 30, 2024.

Scope spans justice-sector strengthening, fiscal and tax reform, anti-corruption efforts, local governance capacity building, e-governance, and rule-of-law advancement across multiple geographies. Recent task orders include the Countering Transnational Corruption Grand Challenge (ceiling $67.8 million), Smart and Secure Cities in Guatemala (ceiling $47.4 million), and activities in West Bank and Gaza (ceiling $48.4 million), Ghana, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia, Georgia, Liberia, and Timor-Leste. All awarded task orders employ Cost Plus Fixed Fee pricing.

Competition is concentrated among a small set of incumbents. DAI Global LLC and Tetra TECH DRG JV, Inc. together hold 9 of 18 orders and $221.4 million in combined potential value—58% of total vehicle value. University Research Co., LLC, Millennium Partners Consulting LLC, and Chemonics International round out the top tier. Eight distinct primes hold awards across 12 USAID regional missions and offices; USAID/Mexico accounts for roughly 44% of combined potential value.

Set-aside mix is heavily unrestricted: 17 of 18 task orders (94%) carry no set-aside designation. One small-business order was awarded and subsequently novated to University Research Co., LLC. Task-order ceilings range from roughly $8 million to $67.8 million, with typical durations extending 12 to 60 months. Multiple recent delivery orders carry notices of termination for convenience, reflecting program adjustments.

The purpose of Active Communities - Effective States (ACES) is to provide technical assistance and advisory services, training, and direct program implementation to support host country good governance, transparency and accountability.