Three Leader-with-Associates Cooperative Agreements (CAs) have been awarded to implement the USAID DOT-COM program:
dot-GOV (Lead organization: Internews Network) dot-ORG (Lead organization: Academy of Educational Development)
dot-EDU (Lead organization: Education Development Center)
The Leader with Associates (LWA) Cooperative Agreement is similar to a traditional cooperative agreement, except that it is designed to allow additional flexibility to facilitate participation by USAID Missions.
The "Leader-with-Associates" name reflects the fact that there is a single lead cooperative agreement, under which multiple associated awards can be made. The terms "Leader Award" and "Associate Award" refer to the relationship of the awards, and not to the issue of who receives the awards.
The Leader Awards were made after a competitive process to the organizations that serve as the prime awardees (also known as lead organizations). USAID Missions and Bureaus can develop additional stand-alone agreements or grants (Associate Awards) with the lead organization without repeating the competition process, so long as the Associate agreements or grants are within the scope of the LWA agreement.
Leader Awards generally fund core activities, such as short-term technical assistance and pilots, whereas Associate Awards generally fund specific projects and activities.
Associate Awards are made to the recipient of the Leader Award: sub-grantees and subcontractors are not eligible to receive stand-alone Associate Awards directly through this mechanism, but their involvement can be engaged in sub-grants and subcontracts through the lead organization.
Download a PDF description of the Leader-with-Associates Instrument.
Core funding for the DOT-COM Alliance is provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture & Trade, Office of Infrastructure and Engineering (EGAT/OI&E), Office of Education (EGAT/ED), and Office of Women in Development (EGAT/WID), under the terms of Award numbers: GDG-A-00-01-00009-00, dot-GOV; GDG-A-00-01-00014-00, dot-ORG; GDG-A-00-01-00011-00, dot-EDU.
