Mir Qais

Mir Qais serves as an Acquisition and Assistance (A&A) Specialist with USAID/Afghanistan, playing a critical role in executing technical assistance and infrastructure-related procurements aligned with the agency’s mission of sustainable development and institutional capacity building. Responsible for managing the full lifecycle of non-personal services contracts and cooperative agreements, Mir specializes in procuring engineering, transportation support, and professional technical services that directly enable USAID’s programs in governance, economic resilience, and infrastructure enhancement. Their work ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations and U.S. foreign assistance policy, bridging technical requirements with strategic development outcomes on the ground. Mir Qais engages with a diverse range of contractors, primarily professional services firms and engineering consultants capable of delivering complex, context-sensitive solutions in challenging operational environments. While no single contractor dominates their portfolio, the relationships are characterized by long-term, performance-based partnerships with firms experienced in Afghan infrastructure contexts, including those with regional presence and cultural competency. Vendor selection emphasizes technical expertise, past performance, and adaptability to dynamic security and logistical conditions. Mir demonstrates a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of procurements classified as “No Set-Aside,” reflecting a focus on merit-based selection rather than socioeconomic set-asides. This approach prioritizes capability and mission alignment over certification-based preferences, ensuring the most qualified firms—regardless of size or status—are selected to deliver high-impact results under stringent performance metrics. The primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction), 488490 (Other Support Activities for Road Transportation), and 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services). Mir consistently acquires civil engineering services, transportation logistics support, and specialized technical consulting to strengthen Afghanistan’s public infrastructure and institutional systems, demonstrating deep expertise in infrastructure development and cross-sector technical assistance procurement.