Leslie Petersen

Mr. Lelise Petersen serves as a Contracting Officer with USAID/Iraq, responsible for managing technical assistance and capacity-building procurements aligned with the agency’s mission to strengthen governance, economic opportunity, and public service delivery in Iraq. He oversees the acquisition of specialized personal services to deploy expert advisors in institutional development, performance management, and democratic governance initiatives. His portfolio primarily supports long-term stability efforts by securing highly skilled professionals who provide on-the-ground technical expertise to Iraqi institutions, ensuring sustainable local capacity. His acquisitions are mission-critical, emphasizing outcomes-driven consulting services rather than commodities or infrastructure. Mr. Petersen collaborates with a diverse range of international and local service providers, including firms specializing in public administration reform, anti-corruption systems, and electoral process support. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, his contracting patterns reflect a preference for experienced, vetted technical service providers with proven track records in post-conflict institutional strengthening. He engages vendors through competitive sealed bidding and negotiated procurements under FAR Part 12, prioritizing quality of expertise over cost alone, and maintains rigorous performance monitoring to ensure alignment with USAID’s strategic objectives. Mr. Petersen’s procurement activity is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects USAID/Iraq’s operational context, where the demand for specialized international expertise often precludes reliance on small business set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs. While socioeconomic preferences are not utilized, his approach ensures access to the highest-caliber technical talent necessary for complex institutional reforms. His primary focus is NAICS 812990 (All Other Personal Services), encompassing expert consulting, policy advisory, training, and institutional assessment services. He procures highly specialized technical assistance in governance, accountability systems, and public financial management, often requiring subject matter experts with field experience in Middle Eastern contexts. His domain expertise lies in designing and managing performance-based service contracts that deliver measurable institutional outcomes.