Michael Ashkouri

Michael Ashkouri serves as a Contracting Officer for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), operating under agency code 7200AA, where he manages the acquisition of technical assistance and institutional capacity-building services critical to international development objectives. He plays a pivotal role in executing USAID’s mission to strengthen public sector governance, economic resilience, and social development abroad by overseeing complex, performance-based contracts that support policy advisory services, democratic engagement, and emergency response coordination. His portfolio primarily consists of professional and technical services acquisitions, often structured as task orders under indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicles, requiring rigorous compliance with FAR and USAID’s Foreign Assistance Directive. Ashkouri maintains a consistent working relationship with AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, a key contractor delivering high-value technical services across multiple development sectors. His procurement approach emphasizes long-term, mission-aligned partnerships with firms possessing deep expertise in governance, institutional reform, and technical consulting. He routinely engages vendors capable of delivering adaptive, context-sensitive solutions in complex international environments, prioritizing performance metrics and local capacity outcomes over transactional deliverables. His contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 80% of awards issued without set-aside restrictions. However, he actively supports small business participation, dedicating 20% of his portfolio to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a balanced commitment to both competition and socioeconomic goals without reliance on 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB-specific programs. Ashkouri’s procurement focus centers on NAICS 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services) and 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services), with significant activity in 541618 (Other Management Consulting Services) and 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction). He routinely procures services related to public administration reform, institutional assessment, technical training, and infrastructure development, requiring deep domain expertise in international governance, project management, and cross-cultural implementation.