Carlitha Ricks

Carlitha Ricks serves as a Contract Specialist within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), operating under agency code 7200AA, where she plays a pivotal role in executing strategic procurement actions that advance global development objectives. She manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions for professional and technical services, ensuring alignment with USAID’s mission to strengthen institutional capacity, governance, and economic resilience in partner nations. Her portfolio primarily consists of complex, performance-based contracts requiring technical expertise in public sector reform and policy advisory services, often involving multi-year, mission-critical engagements that demand rigorous compliance with federal acquisition regulations and international development standards. Ricks maintains a consistent working relationship with AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, a key contractor providing specialized technical assistance in governance and institutional strengthening. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term, performance-driven partnerships with vendors capable of delivering high-level consulting and adaptive management services. She engages primarily with firms possessing demonstrated expertise in international development contexts, favoring contractors with proven track records in public sector capacity building and cross-cultural program implementation. Ricks’s contracting activity reflects a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of her awards issued under no set-aside categories. This indicates a focus on selecting the most qualified providers based on technical merit and programmatic fit rather than socioeconomic designations, though she remains compliant with all small business outreach and reporting requirements. Her approach prioritizes mission effectiveness over socioeconomic targeting, aligning with USAID’s emphasis on results-driven procurement in complex international environments. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services) and NAICS 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services), reflecting her specialization in securing advisory services for governance reform, democratic engagement, and institutional development. She routinely procures technical assistance, policy analysis, training, and organizational development services tailored to public sector modernization in low- and middle-income countries.