Who were USAID’s top contractors in 2021?

Following our analysis on U.S. Agency for International Development’s top grantees, Devex looked into its acquisition data to identify the top 50 contractors and see how much they got. According to USASpending.gov, USAID obligated $5.5 billion in the fiscal year 2021 through the acquisition mechanism, also known as contracts. This is down $568.8 million from the previous fiscal year. The overall decrease corresponds very closely with a $563.5 million dip in the obligated amount to Chemonics, USAID’s largest contractor. Chemonics saw a sharp spike in funding in 2020. This year, income has fallen back, closer to levels seen in 2019. This can be attributed to changes in the amount obligated to its biggest contract, the project Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management, or GHSC-PSM. USAID has so far obligated $4.7 billion, or 90.8%, out of the $5.17 billion total contract amount. Even despite the fall, the development consulting firm still accounted for 30% of the agency’s total contract obligation in F.Y. 2021. Seven of the top 10 are the same as the previous fiscal year. Macfadden, Management Systems International, and RTI International replaced Creative Associates International Inc., Kenya Medical Supplies Authority, and Social Solutions International Inc. Among the top contractors, RTI International and Management Sciences for Health are the only nonprofit organizations. The rest of the top 10 are private consulting and development firms. For a full look at the top 50, see the table below. Top contractors in F.Y. 2021 1. Chemonics Founded: 1975 Location: Washington, D.C. Obligated amount F.Y. 2021: $1.65 billion Rank in F.Y. 2020: 1 Despite a $563.5 million decrease in its total obligated amount from the previous fiscal year, Chemonics maintained its spot as top contractor in F.Y. 2021. More than half of its funding, worth $860.2 million, went to activities under GHSC-PSM. This is USAID’s global initiative focusing on procurement of health commodities, provision of technical assistance on supply chain, and partnership with different stakeholders. 2. DAI Global Founded: 1970 Location: Maryland, U.S. Obligated amount F.Y. 2021: $326.3 million Rank in F.Y. 2020: 2 DAI received $8.5 million less in total obligated funding this fiscal year compared to the previous year. USAID allocated $16 million for the Ukraine Governance and Local Accountability program, which supports the country’s self-governance campaign. 3. Abt Associates Founded: 1965 Location: Massachusetts, U.S. and Maryland, U.S. Obligated amount F.Y. 2021: $305.5 million Rank in F.Y. 2020: 3 Abt Associates’ offices in Massachusetts and Maryland recorded a combined increase, worth $29.1 million. A big chunk of its funding worth $118.2 million went to the PMI VectorLink Project — USAID’s five-year project for malaria control and prevention in 24 countries in Africa. 4. Tetra Tech Founded: 1977 Location: Vermont, U.S. Obligated amount F.Y. 2021: $132.4 million Rank in F.Y. 2020: 6 Tetra Tech’s subsidiary, Associates for Rural Development, received $25.8 million more this fiscal year compared to the previous one. Its biggest activity worth $20 million aims to improve the condition of households in conflict-affected rural communities in Colombia. 5. Research Triangle Institute Founded: 1958 Location: North Carolina, U.S. Obligated amount F.Y. 2021: $115.8 million Rank in F.Y. 2020: 15 RTI International saw the biggest increase in obligated funding among the top contractors worth $61 million. One of its biggest activities is under the Papua New Guinea Electrification Partnership, which aims to provide electricity to 200,000 households in the country, worth $19.4 million. 6. Palladium International Founded: 1965 Location: Washington, D.C. Obligated amount F.Y. 2021: $108.5 million Rank in F.Y. 2020: 4 Down two ranks from the previous fiscal year, Palladium’s obligated amount decreased by $27.2 million in F.Y. 2021. Among its projects, $16 million is obligated to reduce poverty and improve the living conditions in Guatemala. 7. Deloitte USA Founded: 1845 Location: New York Obligated amount F.Y. 2021: $107.9 million Rank in F.Y. 2020: 5 Deloitte’s total obligated funding slightly dipped by $324,000. USAID allocated $17.4 million for the implementation of the Power Africa Energy Program in Ghana. 8. Macfadden Founded: 1988 Location: Maryland, U.S. Obligated amount F.Y. 2021: $93.2 million Rank in F.Y. 2020: 21 With a $54 million increase in obligated amount, Macfadden climbed 13 notches in the list. Its biggest activity, worth $47.5 million, involves supporting USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance through administrative and operational services. 9. Management Systems International Founded: 1981 Location: Virginia, U.S. Obligated amount F.Y. 2021: $71.8 million Rank in F.Y. 2020: 13 MSI — a Tetra Tech company — made it to this year’s top contractors with $16.7 million more obligated funding than the previous fiscal year. USAID obligated $15.1 million for the Transforma project, which supports lasting peace in Colombia by facilitating roundtables among government agencies and managing small grants awarded to local organizations. 10. Management Sciences for Health Founded: 1971 Location: Massachusetts, U.S. Obligated amount F.Y. 2021: $70.5 million Rank in F.Y. 2020: 7 Despite a $22.5 million decrease in obligated amount from the previous year, MSH remains among the top contractors in F.Y. 2021. More than half of its funding, worth $37.8 million, went to activities supporting health systems in low- and middle-income countries. Janadale Leen Coralde created the chart for this article Try out Devex Pro Funding today with a free 5-day trial, and explore funding opportunities from over 850+ sources in addition to our analysis and news content.