USAID Awards $80M Indefinite Quantity Contract to Macfadden; Contract Supports Improving Democracy Programs and International Disaster and Humanitarian Relief Efforts.

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- Macfadden and Associates, Inc. (Macfadden), a professional services company providing humanitarian disaster assistance, integrated information technology and program management services and support, announced today that it has been awarded an Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC) from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The award, which runs through 2011 and has an $80 million ceiling, is for institutional and operational support for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA).

The broad scope of the IQC with Macfadden includes assistance in negotiation and administration of grants and interagency agreements, recruitment and administration of personnel services contracts, field program and information support, and staff training and support for capacity building activities for major international relief efforts.

"A large part of DCHA/OFDA's disaster and humanitarian, transition and development assistance is implemented by private voluntary organizations, non-governmental organizations and public international organizations. The timely negotiation and award of grants and cooperative agreements to these implementing partners is critical to humanitarian assistance," said Carol Chan, CTO of the Macfadden contract. "Macfadden's expertise and knowledge of federal and agency policies and procedures will help ensure that grant and cooperative agreement documentation is processed in a timely manner without unnecessary delay."

The DCHA Bureau provides technical leadership and expertise in coordinating USAID's democracy programs, international disaster assistance, emergency and developmental food aid, and aid to manage and mitigate conflict and volunteer programs. The Bureau also provides technical leadership, support and advice in developing policy and programs to assist countries transitioning out of crisis and administers disaster assistance, preparedness and mitigation.

"It is imperative that U.S. relief efforts have the capacity to move quickly when sudden humanitarian disasters occur. Macfadden team members have the expertise to implement a wide-range of disaster relief and recovery services for the private and public sector. We know that these services will be instrumental as we assist in the negotiation and award of grants and ensure swift deployment of DCHA's long-term workforces and surge capacities," said Russell E. Hall, CEO of Macfadden. "We look forward to working with DCHA and to making a positive impact in high-visibility disaster sites around the globe."

"Working with Macfadden was terrific," said Robert Gersony, a world renowned expert, author and consultant in the humanitarian community who has worked with Macfadden on numerous projects. "Their incredible technical and administrative support and collaborative and able staff made the assignments I worked on with them a pleasure. You get the feeling that they care about the project's success - and yours."

Macfadden has provided support to USAID since 1993, consistently expanding its support services to USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). The Macfadden team has provided support to USAID/OFDA in: Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, Eritrea, Somalia, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Indonesia, Angola, DRC, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Bolivia, Chad, Taiwan, Nicaragua, Bangladesh, Georgia, Peru, India, Tajikistan, Paraguay, Cuba, Sri Lanka, Romania, Mali, Russia, Senegal, Lesotho, Dominican Republic, Philippines, Namibia, Iran, Brazil, Guinea, Morocco, Pakistan, Bahamas, Jamaica, Grenada and Haiti.

About Macfadden

Macfadden is a highly diversified professional services company providing integrated information technology and program management office support services and solutions. For more than two decades, both domestically and abroad, the company has offered a range of integrated solutions and applications that create value and are critical to the effectiveness and success of government and commercial clients.

Currently, Macfadden provides support to multiple information technology and business process projects within federal agencies in addition to USAID, such as the U.S. Department of State, the Food & Drug Administration and the Peace Corps. The services range from the provision of complete administrative services and staff augmentation to development of enterprise IT solutions. For more information about Macfadden visit www.macf.com or contact [e-mail] or 301.588.5900.