Karina Amell

Karina Amell serves as a Human Resources Assistant at USAID/Dominican Republic, supporting the agency’s mission to strengthen public sector institutions through targeted capacity-building initiatives. In her procurement role, she facilitates acquisitions related to human capital development, organizational effectiveness, and technical assistance services that align with USAID’s priorities in health system resilience, justice sector reform, and government-to-government partnerships. She primarily handles non-construction professional services contracts, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and agency-specific human resources protocols to support sustainable institutional outcomes. Amell collaborates with a diverse array of service providers specializing in human resources consulting, organizational development, and training implementation. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she regularly engages firms with expertise in public sector workforce modernization, leadership training, and HIV/AIDS program support. Her working relationships emphasize performance-based outcomes, requiring vendors to demonstrate measurable impacts on institutional capacity and local workforce development. Amell’s contracting activity reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions classified as “No Set-Aside.” This indicates a focus on merit-based selection rather than socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in her procurement patterns, she adheres to all applicable small business utilization goals and ensures fair access for all qualified vendors. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), reflecting her central role in securing specialized technical assistance for institutional reform and workforce strengthening. She also procures services under NAICS 812990 (All Other Personal Services), including short-term consultants and subject matter experts supporting HR systems, training delivery, and organizational diagnostics. Her expertise centers on human capital development, public administration reform, and the design of performance-driven technical assistance programs.