In recent years, USAID’s acquisition and assistance capacity has been a hot topic as the agency struggles to keep up with its essential role in the national security apparatus. Every Administrator had their implementation agenda, often including some form of localization and streamlining of contracts and grants. The more attention – and funding – procurement reform receives from an Administrator, the more traction it achieves.
When I was USAID’s Chief Acquisition Officer (2004-07), I received a phone call from the Administrator asking about the status of hiring all the COs he had approved. I informed him that internal funding was never authorized. It was a short conversation. I did not add that when I had earlier asked the head of HR about the recruitment for these new staff, the response was, “What have you been smoking, Walsh, the money was never authorized.” It was an early lesson that in Washington it all comes down to funding.
With USAID Administrator Samantha Power’s continued support, Jami Rodgers, the current Chief Acquisition Officer, is moving the A&A strategy into high gear on the core objectives:
- A&A Workforce – Hiring new COs, retaining current CO experience and expertise, and empowering and developing local staff (Foreign Service Nationals), the backbone of A&A in the field.
- Streamlining – Through the use of technology and process improvements as well as implementation of flexibilities in the updated 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance
- Diversifying partners – Encouraging new and non-traditional partners through USAID’s Translation Program and an enhanced WorkwithUSAID.gov website.
USAID’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance (M/OAA) hosted a webinar recently to review the 2 CFR 22 updates and to update the implementing partner community of their A&A Strategy. The hiring of Contracting Officers remains a priority, noting that USAID COs carry six-times the burden of DoD counterparts as measured in dollars obligated. Additional COs in Washington and in the field would not only reduce delays in awards and administrative approvals, it would provide more time for partner engagement, enhancing quality and pursuing innovate approaches.
At this point, hiring continues. Approximately 4,000 applications were received in M/OAA’s latest recruitment round for Civil Service positions in Washington. The hiring and retention of Foreign Service COs is especially challenging given the places they are assigned, and additional training and experience needed to receive warrants. M/OAA’s hiring goal for Foreign Service COs is 195.
The webinar also covered USAID’s efforts to strengthen Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and Agreement Officer Representative (AOR) capacity. A COR/AOR Hub has been established which has developed an updated 5-day COR/AOR course, including a toolkit, eLearning materials and a mentorship program. The focus is on enhancing the quality of engagement between CORs/AORs and contractors and recipients.
We hope support for hiring and streamlining initiatives continue into the next Administration. The new USAID Administrator will likely have a different agenda, but staffing will remain fundamental. Ultimately, Congressional funding levels for USAID’s operating expenses will determine how many additional staff will be hired.
Access the Acquisition and Assistance Strategy Update for 2024 here.
