Peter M. Shirk

Peter M. Shirk serves as an Acquisition and Assistance (A&A) Specialist at USAID/Egypt, where he plays a critical role in executing the agency’s development mission through strategic procurement and non-procurement instruments. He manages the full lifecycle of technical assistance awards, including cooperative agreements, grants, and task orders, primarily supporting governance, economic resilience, education, and public health initiatives. His work ensures alignment with USAID’s strategic priorities by facilitating partnerships with local institutions and international experts to design, implement, and evaluate sustainable development programs. Shirk specializes in complex, performance-based acquisitions that require deep technical oversight and adaptive management frameworks. Shirk collaborates with a diverse range of contractors and implementing partners, including international development firms, local Egyptian NGOs, academic institutions, and technical service providers. His procurement patterns reflect a preference for long-term, capacity-building engagements over transactional contracts, fostering stable, trust-based relationships with vendors capable of delivering adaptive, context-sensitive solutions. He frequently works with organizations experienced in institutional strengthening, data-driven monitoring and evaluation, and stakeholder engagement in complex operating environments. Shirk’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong orientation toward open competition, with 100% of his acquisitions conducted under non-set-aside authorities. While he does not routinely utilize socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, his approach emphasizes merit-based selection grounded in technical expertise and local presence. His focus is on ensuring that all awardees—regardless of size or certification—demonstrate proven capacity to deliver high-impact, culturally competent development outcomes. His primary procurement focus centers on professional services related to institutional capacity building, technical training, policy analysis, and monitoring and evaluation systems. He regularly procures services under NAICS categories including 541715 (Research and Development in Social Sciences), 541611 (Administrative Management Consulting), and 541990 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services), demonstrating deep expertise in development program design, performance measurement, and stakeholder coordination within the Middle East context.