Gerald Smith

Gerald Smith serves as a Contracting Officer for USAID/Afghanistan (Agency Code: 720306), where he is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of complex development and infrastructure procurements aligned with U.S. foreign assistance objectives. He executes solicitations, negotiates contract terms, and ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations and USAID’s statutory mandates, particularly in support of governance, economic growth, and humanitarian resilience programs. His portfolio primarily encompasses professional services and civil infrastructure contracts critical to sustaining long-term development outcomes in a high-risk operating environment. Smith’s contractor relationships are characterized by engagements with a diverse range of firms delivering technical expertise and construction services across Afghanistan’s challenging operational landscape. He routinely works with international consulting firms providing administrative and management support, as well as domestic and international contractors specializing in transportation and water infrastructure. His procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, rigorous contractor oversight, and alignment with USAID’s mission of local capacity building through sustainable partnerships. In alignment with USAID’s broader procurement policy, Smith’s contracting activity reflects a 100% preference for open competition without set-asides, indicating a strategic focus on maximizing value and technical capability over socioeconomic categorizations. While he does not prioritize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, his process remains transparent and competitive, ensuring the selection of the most qualified vendors regardless of size or ownership structure. His primary procurement focus lies in four key NAICS categories: Administrative Management Consulting (541611), Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation (481111), Water and Sewer Line Construction (237110), and Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (237310). These reflect his technical expertise in managing both service-based advisory contracts and large-scale physical infrastructure projects essential to institutional strengthening and community resilience in Afghanistan.