Eric Strong

Eric Strong serves as a Contracting Officer for USAID/Afghanistan (720306), where he leads the acquisition and management of professional services critical to advancing U.S. development objectives in Afghanistan. In this role, he ensures compliance with federal procurement regulations while aligning contract actions with USAID’s strategic priorities in governance, economic growth, education, and health system strengthening. His portfolio is exclusively focused on administrative and general management consulting services, where he evaluates proposals, negotiates terms, and oversees performance to ensure technical excellence and programmatic impact. He works closely with program officers, legal advisors, and compliance teams to deliver mission-critical support through competitively awarded contracts. Mr. Strong’s contractor relationships are centered on firms providing high-level management consulting, institutional capacity building, and program design services. He engages with a diverse pool of U.S.-based and international consultants, including specialized firms with deep expertise in public sector reform, financial management systems, and organizational development. His procurement approach emphasizes merit-based selection, rigorous technical evaluation, and performance-based contract structures to ensure accountability and measurable outcomes in complex operating environments. Mr. Strong’s contracting activity reflects a 100% non-set-aside orientation, with no use of 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic set-asides. This reflects the nature of the specialized consulting services required, where qualifications, technical capacity, and demonstrated experience in post-conflict contexts outweigh socioeconomic criteria. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through set-asides, he maintains an open and competitive acquisition process that allows all eligible firms to compete on technical merit. His primary NAICS focus is 541611—Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services—underscoring his specialization in procuring strategic advisory services that enhance institutional effectiveness. He routinely awards contracts for organizational assessments, policy design, donor coordination, and performance monitoring systems, requiring deep expertise in international development frameworks and adaptive management methodologies.