Active Communities - Effective States (ACES)

The Active Communities - Effective States (ACES) is an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) designed to provide comprehensive technical assistance and advisory services in governance, transparency, and accountability. The contract supports a broad range of democracy, rights, and governance (DRG) initiatives across multiple international development sectors. Its approach goes beyond traditional accountability support by understanding how citizens interact within systems and processes, and by integrating good governance principles into various development programs such as health, education, and economic growth.

Task orders under the ACES vehicle typically focus on strengthening governance systems in partner countries, with a primary emphasis on anti-corruption, justice sector reform, local governance, and fiscal accountability. The delivery orders range in value from approximately $7 million to $48 million, with performance periods generally spanning 3-5 years. Frequent prime contractors include DAI Global LLC, Tetra Tech DRG JV, Inc., Chemonics International, and Development Professionals, Inc., with most awards being cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts without specific set-aside designations. Geographically, the task orders cover diverse regions including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Timor-Leste, Ghana, Serbia, Kosovo, Liberia, Georgia, and the West Bank and Gaza, demonstrating USAID's global approach to governance enhancement and institutional strengthening.