Olivia Ricks

Olivia Ricks serves as a key procurement lead within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), operating under agency code 7200AA, where she manages strategic acquisitions aligned with the agency’s mission to strengthen global governance, institutional capacity, and democratic resilience. She oversees the full lifecycle of technical assistance contracts, policy advisory services, and emergency response support programs, ensuring alignment with federal acquisition regulations and USAID’s development objectives. Her work centers on procuring complex, performance-based services that enhance public sector functionality in partner nations, often involving multi-year, mission-critical engagements requiring high levels of technical and operational coordination. Ricks maintains a primary working relationship with AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, a trusted contractor delivering institutional capacity-building solutions, governance diagnostics, and electoral support services. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established, high-capacity vendors with proven experience in international development contexts, while maintaining a disciplined approach to competition and performance accountability. She consistently engages contractors capable of delivering adaptive, context-sensitive interventions across fragile and transition economies. Her set-aside preferences demonstrate a balanced approach to socioeconomic contracting, with 80% of awards issued under full and open competition and 20% allocated to 8(a) competed contracts. This reflects a deliberate strategy to leverage small business innovation while prioritizing mission readiness and program continuity. She actively promotes small business participation within the 8(a) program, ensuring eligible firms have meaningful access to development-focused opportunities without compromising procurement integrity. While NAICS data is not currently available, her portfolio consistently targets services related to public administration, governance reform, and democratic engagement—domains typically classified under NAICS 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services) and 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services). Her expertise lies in procuring complex, human-centered technical assistance that supports institutional strengthening, policy analysis, and civil society engagement in low- and middle-income countries.