SAMUEL NWANOKWU

Development professional and Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist with over 26 years of progressively responsible hands-on work experience in procurement planning and performing pre-award and post-award responsibilities. Several years of leading teams and serving as key advisor to the Supervisory Contracting/Agreement Officers for all Acquisition and Assistance (A&A) matters with in-depth technical knowledge and analytical skills. Several years of demonstrating leadership, management, communication, and interpersonal skills with strong expertise in leading, coordinating, supervising, mentoring, coaching, training, and developing Mission's foreign service national (FSN) A&A Specialists, assigning actions, reviewing their work, guides, and giving expert advice on how to leverage the tools of procurement to effectively advance the goals and objectives of the Agency. Coordinated co-creation that generated four awards, guided FSNs in processing two community-led monitoring awards through co-creation and participated in two separate co-creation activities with a regional public international organization. Mentored and trained seven foreign service national A&A Specialists who have received Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) certification and obtained several recognition awards. Skilled in showing flexibility and giving supervisees constructive feedback and harnessing the benefits of diversity while introducing innovations and best practices with the goal of maximizing best value. Negotiated, prepared, executed, and managed several complex multi-million-dollar flagship awards, including five-year $333 million Strengthening Integrated Delivery of HIV/AIDS Services (SIDHAS) award, $418 million Global HIV/AIDS Initiative in Nigeria (GHAIN), HIV/AIDS, and $49.5 million Strengthening Regional Peace and Stability (SRPS) in West Africa Program contract. Over seven years of providing business advisory, technical guidance, and analytical support to regional technical offices (USAID/West Africa), including Regional Peace and Governance Office (RPGO), Regional Health Office (RHO), Regional Program Office (RPO), and once handled awards for the Regional Economic Growth Office/Agriculture team, and Cameroon Office and assisting A&A Specialists in Benin. Several years of assisting in building the capacity of local indigenous nongovernmental organizations, conducting training on compliance, and doing business with the Agency policies and award terms and conditions; and negotiating awards with local and international organizations. Several years of collaborating with technical teams in the design, expansion, and implementation of their programs, providing guidance to planners, and assisting mission staff in managing and monitoring activities and improving their Contracting/Agreement Officer Representative (COR/AOR) skills. Several years of conducting policy research, analysis and interpretation of regulations, policies, and procedures; and coordinating the review and analysis of findings and recommendations in audit reports.

• Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Professional
• Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Level II - 01/2015
• Procurement Management Certification Program (PMCP) - Completed in 2007
• Federal Acquisition Certification for Contracting Officer's Representative (FAC-COR)
• Acquisition & Assistance for Cognizant Technical Officer (CTO) Supervisors Certificate - 04/2004
• Cognizant Technical Officer (CTO) Certificate - 12/2004
• Supervision Certification - 11/2017

• Admirable interpersonal skills
• Experience leading teams with strong supervising skills and serving as a subject matter expert on federal award making processes and business systems.
• Experience working with United States Government Agencies.
• Deep knowledge of award negotiation, making or management processes, including use of information management systems.
• Negotiation, technical and analytical and cost analysis skills
• Mentoring, coaching, and training skills
• Ability to create and translate policy and guidance into business processes and ensure that information is captured in data management systems and training materials.
• Ability to identify gaps and make improvements in office-level award management systems and processes.
• Ability to present information both through formal training and informally to different stakeholders.
• Ability to lead consultative processes involving a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to prepare products independently with appropriate content and minimal errors in a timely manner.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others and communicate effectively with colleagues, supervisors, subordinates, customers, and other stakeholders, and to interpret, summarize acquisition and assistance and audit findings and recommendations to technical and non-technical professionals.
• Ability to perform procurement planning, source selection, solicitation and award documentation and preparation, post-award administration and project management.
• Demonstration of ownership of work responsibilities and holding high standards, keeping commitments and taking appropriate actions to ensure obligations are met, and pursuing efficiency and effectiveness and adhering to organization policies and procedures.
• In-depth technical knowledge of United States Government and USAID Acquisition and Assistance regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Problem-solving, organizational skills, teamwork, and collaboration.
• Proficiency in the use of computers, especially Microsoft (MS) Office applications, and delivery of quality presentations.

• As a Senior A&A Specialist, I received several awards for management, leadership and communication skills, technical knowledge, and customer service, including, but not limited to the following:
• Individual Meritorious Honor Award (December 2019): Exceptional coaching, mentoring, team leadership and work ethics in building capacity in the Regional Acquisition and Assistance Office.
• Meritorious Group Honor Award (December 2019): Continuous coaching, mentorship and inspiring the newly recruited RAAO staff to achieve excellence, high productivity and customer satisfaction.
• On-the-Spot Award (November 2019): Processing a procurement in 7 days instead PALT of 71 days.
• Group On-the-Spot Award (July 2019): Outstanding teamwork in expediting negotiations - savings.
• Cash Award (April 2017): Exhibiting creativity, efficiency, and sound business development practices.
• On-the-Spot Award (June 2017): Excellent guidance, support on design, award, startup of CVE portfolio.
• On-the-Spot Award (November 2016): Excellent customer service during two time-sensitive actions.
• On-the-Spot Award (November 2016): Selfless commitment, fortitude and outstanding professionalism in providing A&A support to the mission including limited presence countries.
• On-the-Spot Award (November 2015): Selfless commitment and dedication in providing excellent A&A support to the Regional Agriculture Office.
• Group Honor Award (June 2015): Quickly and effectively executing the Mission’s plan for developing qualified, local Non-Government Organizations.
• Meritorious Group Award, GLAAS Africa Deployment Logistics Coordinators (October 2012).
• OAA Mr. Research Award (May 2012): Exceptional fact-finding and research skills.
• Length-of-Service Award (December 2011): 15 years of dedicated and creditable service with the USG.
• On-the-Spot Award (February 2011).
• Group Cash Award (November 2008).
• Certificate of Appreciation (March 2008): Outstanding contributions to the President’s Emergency Plan.
• Group On-the-Spot Award (July 2007): High-level success in moving forward Emergency Plan goals
• Meritorious Group Honor Award (January 2007): Exceptional performance administering $500M portfolio.
• Group Cash Award (February 2006): Outstanding contributions to USAID Integrated Health & Education.
• Meritorious Group Award (November 2005): Exceptional resourcefulness and customer service leading to successful rapid implementation of a $100M development assistance program.
• Meritorious Honor Award (December 2023): XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX