USAID's $360M Prosper Africa Trade & Investment Activity Awarded to DAI Global LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $360,730,352 ($360.7M)

Contractor: DAI Global LLC

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2021-09-25

End Date: 2025-06-13

Contract Duration: 1,357 days

Daily Burn Rate: $265.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PROSPER AFRICA, FEED THE FUTURE, AND OTHER INITIATIVES, THE USAID AFRICA BUREAU, AFRICA REGIONAL MISSIONS, AND THE MIDDLE EAST BUREAU ARE JOINTLY ESTABLISHING THE PROSPER AFRICA TRADE AND INVESTMENT (PATI) ACTIVITY. THE PURPOSE O

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $360.7 million to DAI GLOBAL LLC for work described as: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PROSPER AFRICA, FEED THE FUTURE, AND OTHER INITIATIVES, THE USAID AFRICA BUREAU, AFRICA REGIONAL MISSIONS, AND THE MIDDLE EAST BUREAU ARE JOINTLY ESTABLISHING THE PROSPER AFRICA TRADE AND INVESTMENT (PATI) ACTIVITY. THE PURPOSE O Key points: 1. This contract supports USAID's Prosper Africa initiative, aiming to increase two-way trade and investment between the U.S. and Africa. 2. The award is part of a larger effort involving multiple USAID bureaus and regional missions, indicating significant strategic importance. 3. Competition was full and open, suggesting a robust process for selecting the contractor. 4. The contract's focus on trade and investment has the potential for broad economic impact across African nations.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $360.7 million over approximately 3.75 years appears reasonable for a large-scale, multi-faceted international development program. Benchmarking against similar large-scale technical assistance contracts for economic development would provide further context.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and ensures the best value is sought.

Taxpayer Impact: The goal of increasing trade and investment is intended to foster economic growth in Africa, which can lead to long-term benefits for U.S. taxpayers through increased market access and stability.

Public Impact

Enhances economic opportunities in Africa through increased trade and investment. Strengthens U.S.-Africa economic partnerships and diplomatic ties. Supports private sector growth and job creation in target African countries. Aims to improve the business climate and regulatory environments in Africa. Contributes to USAID's broader development goals in the region.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for long implementation periods and evolving geopolitical risks in Africa.
Measuring the direct impact of trade and investment activities can be complex.
Ensuring equitable benefits distribution across different African economies.

Positive Signals

Strong alignment with U.S. foreign policy objectives in Africa.
Leverages existing USAID infrastructure and partnerships.
Focus on sustainable economic development and private sector engagement.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically related to international development and economic growth. Spending in this area by agencies like USAID is substantial, focusing on capacity building, policy reform, and market facilitation.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses in this contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the Agency for International Development (USAID), which has established oversight mechanisms for its activities. The multi-bureau involvement suggests a coordinated approach to monitoring and accountability.

Related Government Programs

All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Agency for International Development Contracting
Agency for International Development Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for political instability impacting program effectiveness.
Challenges in measuring direct economic impact and attribution.
Risk of currency fluctuations affecting investment values.
Complexity of navigating diverse regulatory environments across African nations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $360.7 million to DAI GLOBAL LLC. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PROSPER AFRICA, FEED THE FUTURE, AND OTHER INITIATIVES, THE USAID AFRICA BUREAU, AFRICA REGIONAL MISSIONS, AND THE MIDDLE EAST BUREAU ARE JOINTLY ESTABLISHING THE PROSPER AFRICA TRADE AND INVESTMENT (PATI) ACTIVITY. THE PURPOSE O

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DAI GLOBAL LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Agency for International Development (Agency for International Development).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $360.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-09-25. End: 2025-06-13.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for measuring the success of the Prosper Africa Trade and Investment Activity in terms of increased trade and investment?

Success will likely be measured by KPIs such as the value of U.S.-Africa trade deals facilitated, the amount of U.S. private sector investment mobilized in Africa, improvements in the ease of doing business rankings in target countries, and the number of jobs created or sustained as a direct result of the program's interventions. These metrics will provide a quantifiable assessment of the activity's contribution to its stated goals.

What are the primary risks associated with implementing a large-scale trade and investment program across diverse African markets?

Key risks include political instability in partner countries, regulatory hurdles, currency fluctuations, corruption, infrastructure deficits, and the potential for unintended negative consequences on local industries. Managing these risks requires robust due diligence, adaptive management strategies, strong local partnerships, and continuous monitoring of the socio-economic and political landscape.

How will the effectiveness of DAI Global LLC's management and technical expertise be assessed throughout the contract period?

Effectiveness will be assessed through regular performance reviews, milestone achievement tracking, financial audits, and stakeholder feedback mechanisms. USAID will monitor DAI's ability to meet contract objectives, manage resources efficiently, adapt to changing conditions, and deliver high-quality technical assistance and programmatic outcomes aligned with the Prosper Africa initiative's goals.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 7200AA21R00012

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7600 WISCONSIN AVE STE 200, BETHESDA, MD, 20814

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $520,776,180

Exercised Options: $520,776,180

Current Obligation: $360,730,352

Actual Outlays: $198,023,667

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 120

Total Subaward Amount: $64,430,444

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline