PAE buys Macfadden to add more disaster response work

PAE purchases disaster response support provider Macfadden & Associates to further expand work with the U.S. Agency for International Development and other agencies.

PAE has acquired international disaster response support firm Macfadden & Associates in a move to increase work with the U.S. Agency for International Development and other federal agencies involved in humanitarian missions worldwide.

Terms of the transaction were undisclosed. PAE said Friday the deal also adds maintenance and safeguarding services for government financial and other information systems.

This is PAE’s second acquisition under the ownership of investment group Platinum Equity, which purchased PAE in the spring of 2016. The Arlington, Virginia-based government services contractor purchased FCi Federal in June of last year to further grow in the law enforcement and homeland security sectors.

Silver Spring, Md.-based Macfadden brings about 300 employees based in the Washington, D.C., region to PAE. The company’s services include program management, human resources, financial management systems, information technology, knowledge management, travel coordination and communications support.

In a release, PAE CEO John Heller said the deal builds on the company’s relationship with USAID that started during the 2015 Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa. Close to 1,600 employees traveled to the region to stand up and run nine treatment units and a field hospital unit.

That work resulted in PAE’s selection for the GovCon Program of the Year award as part of the 2015 Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards program produced by the Professional Services Council and the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Macfadden recorded $33 million in revenue during 2016, according to its last annual report. Also in 2016, Macfadden won a potential five-year, $300 million recompeted contract to support USAID’s Bureau of Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance.

That contract covers information support, grants management, geographic information system analysis, travel management and administrative support to the DCHA organization. Macfadden has performed the work for almost two decades.

Other federal customers of Macfadden include the Treasury, Health and Human Services and State Departments; Food and Drug Administration; and Coast Guard.