Procurement

Activities in USAID/Afghanistan are implemented through contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements with American, Afghani and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and contractors through several basic instruments:

Contracts

Contracts are used when the principal purpose is to acquire supplies or services for the direct benefit or use of USAID or any other Federal government entity; or USAID determines in a specific instance that the use of a contract is appropriate; and USAID plans to exercise a substantial degree of operational control.

Cooperative Agreements

Cooperative agreements are used when the principal purpose is the transfer of money, supplies, services or anything of value to the recipient in order to accomplish a public purpose of support; and substantial involvement is anticipated between USAID and the recipient during implementation of the activity.

Grants

Grants are used when the principal purpose is the transfer of money, supplies, services or anything of value to the recipient in order to pursue its stated program, and substantial involvement is not anticipated between USAID and the recipient during implementation of the activity.