Samsak Sao

Samsak Sao serves as a key procurement professional within USAID/Cambodia, supporting the agency’s mission to advance sustainable development through strategic contracting for technical advisory services and civil society strengthening. Responsible for managing the acquisition lifecycle of non-construction services, Sao oversees contracts aligned with USAID’s priorities in environmental conservation, health communication, and institutional capacity building. Their work ensures compliance with U.S. foreign assistance regulations and local engagement frameworks, facilitating the selection of qualified providers who can deliver context-specific, locally led development outcomes. Sao maintains collaborative relationships with a diverse range of contractors, primarily professional services firms and nonprofit organizations specializing in technical consulting and environmental management. While no single contractor dominates the portfolio, the contracting pattern reflects a preference for agile, mission-aligned partners capable of delivering adaptive, evidence-based solutions. These partnerships are often structured as task-order contracts under indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) mechanisms, allowing for responsive, performance-driven engagement across multiple geographic and thematic areas. Sao’s procurement strategy demonstrates a strong orientation toward open competition, with 94.1% of awards issued without set-asides, reflecting a focus on technical merit and value over socioeconomic preferences. However, a consistent 5.9% of awards are designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, indicating a measured but intentional commitment to fostering local and U.S.-based small business participation in development programming. The primary NAICS codes underpinning Sao’s acquisitions—541990, 813312, and 541690—reveal deep specialization in professional scientific services, environmental conservation organizations, and technical consulting. This reflects a procurement focus on capacity-building advisors, community-based environmental stewards, and specialized consultants delivering policy, education, and ecological resilience services tailored to Cambodia’s development context.