MCC’s commitment to country ownership – one of our founding principles – means that countries are full partners in developing our time-limited investment programs and take the lead in program implementation. This approach promotes the effectiveness and sustainability of our impact over the long term.
Program procurements, grants, and public-private partnerships are solicited, awarded, and administered by partner country accountable entities—or Millennium Challenge Accounts, also known as MCAs. Procurements comply with MCC’s Program Procurement Guidelines, which are based on international procurement standards. MCC oversees these procurement processes to ensure that contracts are open, transparent, free of corruption, and provide best value to American taxpayers.
Upcoming Contract and Grant Opportunities with Partner Countries
- Live grant and procurement opportunities are posted on the dgMarket website.
- MCC publishes a quarterly Business Forecast of partner country opportunities and also posts a downloadable list of previously awarded contracts.
Five Reasons to Do Business in Our Partner Countries
1. Invoices are paid directly by the U.S. Treasury to the contractor
While MCC and the U.S. Government are not direct parties to contracts administered by our partner countries, payments are made directly by the U.S. Treasury to contractors. This eliminates common risks associated with working in emerging economies and guarantees that invoices are paid as quickly as possible.2. Funding is committed to specific programs up-front
MCC’s funding is appropriated by the U.S. Congress and committed to specific programs up-front, with no incremental or partial funding. So when a contract is signed with a contractor, money is already available.3. The procurement process establishes a fair playing field
All contracts are awarded based on fair and open international competition, which creates a level playing field where companies, including U.S. companies and small businesses, can compete and win. The MCC model includes checks and oversight at every step of the procurement process so that all bidders are treated fairly.4. Winning contracts are price-reasonable and best value
MCC requires all MCAs to conduct a price reasonableness analysis of each procurement so a commercially reasonable price is paid. Proposed prices that are considered unreasonably high or low may be rejected. Proposals are evaluated by independent technical experts based on the best value for American taxpayers, taking into account references, technical quality, and past performance. MCC has zero tolerance for fraud and corruption, which is monitored by the Office of the Inspector General.5. International environmental and labor standards are enforced
MCC guidelines also ensure that companies implementing MCC-funded contracts don’t harm the environment or engage in unfair or unsafe labor practices. Companies with experience complying with these standards have an advantage during the bidding process.Differences Between MCC and Partner Country Contracts
| MCC Contracts | MCC Partner Country Contracts |
|---|---|
| $70 million per year, on average | $500 million per year, on average |
| For: headquarters operations, due diligence, and monitoring and evaluation | For: program implementation |
| Administered by: MCC | Administered by: MCC partner country accountable entities, often called Millennium Challenge Accounts, with MCC oversight |
| Comply with: U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) | Comply with: MCC’s Program Procurement Guidelines, based on international best practices |
Stay Engaged and Informed
- Subscribe to MCC’s email list to learn about upcoming MCC events, including domestic and international outreach events.
- Contact us to partner on events and outreach.
- For questions about a specific procurement, please refer to the contact information included in each procurement notice contained in the grant and procurement opportunities posted on the dgMarket website or quarterly Business Forecast.