Irene B. Narag

Irene B. Narag serves as Procurement Secretary for USAID/Philippines, overseeing the strategic acquisition of technical and institutional support services critical to the agency’s mission of advancing sustainable development and governance capacity. In this role, she leads the planning, solicitation, and award of contracts aligned with USAID’s priorities in public administration, financial management, climate resilience, and infrastructure development. Her procurement portfolio primarily encompasses professional, scientific, and technical services that build local institutional capability through expert consulting, training, and program implementation support. She ensures all acquisitions adhere to federal procurement regulations and USAID’s development effectiveness standards, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and alignment with Philippine government priorities. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Ms. Narag maintains collaborative relationships with a diverse pool of domestic and international service providers, including firms specializing in governance reform, economic policy analysis, and climate adaptation planning. Her procurement approach prioritizes technical excellence and local partner engagement, fostering long-term vendor partnerships that align with USAID’s capacity-building objectives. She frequently engages contractors with demonstrated expertise in public sector reform and development finance, ensuring that services delivered are contextually appropriate and sustainable. Ms. Narag demonstrates a strong preference for open competition, with 92.3% of her acquisitions conducted without set-aside restrictions, reflecting a focus on merit-based selection. However, she consistently supports small business participation, allocating 7.7% of awards to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, signaling a measured but intentional commitment to socioeconomic contracting goals without compromising technical requirements. Her procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 812990 (All Other Personal Services) and 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), indicating a heavy reliance on expert consulting, technical assistance, and customized capacity-building services. These contracts typically support policy advisory work, institutional assessments, and training programs delivered by specialized firms with deep domain expertise in governance, economic development, and climate resilience.