Jonathan B. Palmer

Jonathan B. Palmer serves as Regional Contracting Officer for USAID/Egypt, overseeing the acquisition of technical assistance and program support services critical to the agency’s development mission in Egypt. In this role, he manages the full lifecycle of contracts—from market research and solicitation to award and performance monitoring—ensuring compliance with FAR, USAID policies, and U.S. government procurement standards. His portfolio primarily supports governance, economic resilience, education, and public health initiatives, engaging a diverse array of professional service providers to deliver mission-critical technical expertise. Palmer’s acquisitions are strategically aligned with USAID/Egypt’s goals of building local institutional capacity and fostering sustainable, locally-led development outcomes. Palmer collaborates with a broad spectrum of international and local contractors, including management consulting firms, research organizations, and specialized technical service providers. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for performance-based, outcome-driven agreements that emphasize measurable impact and accountability. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages firms with demonstrated experience in Egyptian institutional contexts, ensuring cultural and operational alignment with program objectives. His approach prioritizes transparency, competitive bidding, and contractor performance evaluation to uphold USAID’s standards of integrity and effectiveness. Palmer’s contracting activity reflects a strong commitment to small business participation, with 15.4% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. While the majority of acquisitions are open to all competitors, he actively promotes equitable access for small businesses, particularly those with expertise in professional and technical services. His approach aligns with USAID’s broader socioeconomic objectives, encouraging diverse vendor participation without relying on 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, which are not currently utilized in his portfolio. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), encompassing a wide range of technical advisory, capacity-building, and evaluation services. He also regularly procures administrative management consulting (541611), payroll services (541214), and marketing research (541910), reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of USAID’s development programs. Palmer’s expertise centers on securing high-quality, contextually grounded services that enhance local governance, workforce development, and public sector efficiency.