Francisco Santos

Mr. Francisco Santos serves as a key procurement lead within USAID/Iraq, supporting the agency’s mission to strengthen institutional resilience and governance through technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives. In his role, he manages the acquisition of professional and personal services critical to implementing long-term development programs, with a focus on performance management, democratic governance, and public service delivery. He oversees the full lifecycle of contracts for expert advisors, institutional development consultants, and technical support services, ensuring alignment with U.S. foreign assistance priorities and compliance with federal acquisition regulations. His work directly enables local Iraqi entities to build sustainable capacity and improve public accountability. Mr. Santos collaborates with a diverse array of international and local service providers, including specialized consulting firms, governance experts, and technical advisors with deep regional experience. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, his contracting patterns reflect a preference for firms with demonstrated expertise in public administration reform, electoral systems, and economic policy analysis. He fosters collaborative, performance-based vendor relationships grounded in measurable outcomes and adaptive management principles, prioritizing contractors who can integrate seamlessly into Iraq’s evolving institutional landscape. Mr. Santos’s procurement strategy reflects a strong emphasis on open competition, with 100% of his acquisitions classified as “No Set-Aside.” This approach prioritizes technical merit and value over socioeconomic classifications, aligning with USAID’s focus on mission-critical outcomes in complex operating environments. While he does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, his process remains transparent and competitive, ensuring access for qualified domestic and international firms. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), encompassing governance advisory, institutional assessment, and performance monitoring services. He also regularly procures personal services under NAICS 812990, including long-term technical advisors embedded within Iraqi ministries. His domain expertise centers on public sector reform, accountability systems, and democratic institutional development, making him a critical conduit for deploying high-impact technical assistance across Iraq’s civil service ecosystem.