Maryam Abdullahi

In my role as CPARS Alternate Focal Point, I supported the Mission Focal Point in managing contracts valued at over $245 million, representing 30% of the active awards. My responsibilities included assisting with complex CPARS reviews and ensuring the effective completion of all tasks.

Key skills and accomplishments:

• Self-Motivation & Responsibility: Consistently took initiative, demonstrating accountability in managing tasks.
• Collaboration: Fostered strong, respectful relationships with team members and stakeholders, ensuring smooth collaboration.
• Enhanced Communication: Improved communication skills through continuous engagement with various teams.
• Problem-Solving: Identified operational issues, resolved challenges, and provided exceptional service to enhance mission outcomes.

My work contributed to improving contractor selection, strengthening contractor relationships, and ensuring adherence to USAID’s performance standards, thereby enhancing the transparency and effectiveness of contractor performance management.

In my role as an Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, I provide comprehensive procurement support to USAID/Nigeria's project teams. As one of three specialists supporting the Health, Population, and Nutrition (HPN) Office, I manage procurement activities across various sectors, including Education, Economic Growth, Agriculture, Power (EGAP), and Peace and Governance, for projects valued at over $1 billion (equivalent to over 1.5 trillion Nigerian Naira). My responsibilities include:

• Procurement Planning & Support: Assist technical teams in planning and drafting concept notes for new procurements to aligned with USAID/Nigeria's development objectives and the country’s development strategy.
• Instrument Selection & Compliance: Ensure the correct selection of procurement instruments, verify the completeness of Statements of Work (SOW) and program descriptions (PD), and ensure compliance with U.S. Government (USG) procurement regulations, including Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Automated Directive System (ADS), and U.S Agency for International Development Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR).
• Requisition Review & Approval: Review and recommend approval or revisions of requisitions in the USAID Global Acquisition and Assistance System (GLAAS), as well as review and approve scopes of work and program descriptions for new activities/contracts.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Co-create procurement strategies with stakeholders, including implementing partners, beneficiaries, and host government representatives, to ensure activity designs address challenges and incorporate efficient solutions from design through implementation and closeout.
• Cost & Price Analysis: Perform complex cost and price analyses, ensuring proposals meet USAID requirements. I review applicant’s past performance to mitigate risks and ensure proposals adhere to evaluation criteria.
• Solicitation Management: Develop Request for Proposals (RFPs) and Request for Applications (RFAs), ensuring required performance indicators are included, and manage the solicitation process through platforms like SAM.gov and Grants.gov.
• Industry Engagement: Organize industry days to update contractors and implementing partners on USAID’s procurement systems, and facilitate reverse industry days to gather feedback and improve operations.
• Negotiation & Contracting: Conduct negotiations with offerors to resolve technical and cost issues, request revised proposals, and finalize contracts or grants. I manage the entire contracting process, including drafting contracts, issuing awards, and negotiating interagency agreements.
• Capacity Building: Provide pre-award surveys and capacity-building support for new partners to ensure compliance with USAID’s management, accounting, procurement, and personnel systems. I also mentor and train lower-level specialists, ensuring smooth contract execution.
• Post-Award Support: Lead post-award orientations for partners and contracting officers to ensure clarity on contract documents and responsibilities. I manage ongoing contract monitoring and support to ensure successful project implementation.
• Contract Documentation & Filing: Maintain up-to-date contract files from inception to closeout in USG electronic filing systems (ASIST) and other approved systems.
• Mentorship & Training: Identify knowledge gaps among junior specialists and staff, providing targeted training to enhance team proficiency and ensure efficient contract management. Also, trained Career Candidate Corps (C3) Officers (Officers transiting from Other U.S Government office to USAID.
• Customer Satisfaction & Issue Resolution: Proactively address issues and provide timely resolutions, improving customer satisfaction and project outcomes.

Through my work, I have successfully supported large-scale procurements, enhanced project delivery, and contributed to capacity building for local partners and stakeholders in Nigeria. My expertise in procurement processes, contract negotiation, and compliance ensures the effective implementation of USAID’s programs.

As the USAID Mission Nigeria Focal Point for Contractors Performance Assessment Reports (CPARS), I played a central role in ensuring the timely, accurate, and effective reporting of contractor performance, aimed at improving contractor selection and management. I was responsible for overseeing the entire CPARS process, maintaining performance integrity, and facilitating efficient evaluations.

Key responsibilities and accomplishments included:

• Timely Reporting & Accuracy: Ensured CPARS were submitted on time, providing reliable assessments that enhanced contractor selection and project outcomes.
• Customer Service Improvement: Reduced client complaints by implementing more efficient and effective customer service strategies.
• Training & Support: Delivered training and administrative support to program managers and assessing officials, ensuring the high-quality completion of CPARs.
• Operational Reviews: Conducted regular operational reviews to identify areas for process improvement.
• Project Management: Managed multiple CPARS-related projects simultaneously, ensuring compliance with deadlines and budgets.
• Data Management & System Oversight: Maintained a central repository of CPARs for future source selections and ensured proper usage of the CPARS system to track contractor performance.
• Conflict of Interest Prevention: Monitored system access to prevent conflicts of interest and maintained integrity in the evaluation process.
• Monitoring & Compliance: Oversaw contractor performance, ensuring timely progress reports, conducting site visits, and ensuring compliance with contract performance standards.
• Corrective Actions: Recommended corrective actions, including contract terminations or revisions, when performance standards were not met.
• Evaluation Tracking: Managed and tracked evaluations to ensure timely completion and follow-ups.

During my tenure at USAID Nigeria, I held dual roles as both the Principal Class B Cashier and Voucher Examiner, with responsibilities spanning across financial operations, compliance, and training. I also served as the Alternate Class B Cashier, ensuring seamless operations during my colleague's absence. Below are the key duties and achievements from my time in these roles:

• Cashier Operations Management: Oversaw a range of cashier tasks, including processing certified cash vouchers, temporary cash advances, and managing cash flow to stay within mission guidelines. I ensured all transactions were entered into the Coast Cashier system and maintained meticulous records for vouchers, accommodation exchanges, and related documents.
• Voucher Examination & Audits: Reviewed and audited vouchers for compliance with USAID policies, identifying overpayments and duplicate charges that resulted in cost savings for the organization. I was also responsible for analyzing invoices and contracts to ensure that payments aligned with project terms and conditions.
• Reconciliation & Reporting: Reconciled ACDC-013 reports from the CFSC, ensuring that all financial balances between USD and Naira currencies were in sync. I also played a crucial role in resolving discrepancies and ensuring proper financial documentation.
• Training & Capacity Building: Provided training to staff, including voucher examiners, ensuring compliance with USAID financial regulations. I also mentored and guided junior staff, improving their performance and contributing to process improvements that increased the efficiency of the voucher examination process.
• Vendor Relations & Problem Resolution: Strengthened relationships with vendors by providing timely payment updates and resolving disputes. I handled discrepancies in voucher submissions, ensuring transparency and effective communication with vendors and contractors.
• Field and Financial Reviews: Conducted site visits to review financial reports from Implementing Partners and supported financial reviews in collaboration with other USAID offices, ensuring accountability and compliance with project terms.
• Cashier Liaison Role: Acted as the primary liaison between CFSC and the local USDO bank, resolving issues and ensuring timely closure of unspent employee funds in the E2 Travel system.

Through these roles, I demonstrated a strong attention to detail, compliance with financial policies, and a commitment to enhancing financial operations and processes at USAID Nigeria.