NMSDC Conference and Business Opportunity Exchange

Mauricio Vera
Office of Small Business Disadvantaged Business Utilization
U.S. Agency for International Development


Mauricio P. Vera is a career member of the Senior Executive Service and serves as Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). In this role, Mr. Vera leads USAID’s efforts to provide maximum opportunities for small businesses to participate in agency contract awards through outreach, education, and creative procurement initiatives. Under Mr. Vera’s leadership, USAID achieved significant and unprecedented increases in its small business accomplishments. Specifically, USAID was one of only three Federal agencies to earn an “A+” grade from the SBA on its Small Business Procurement Scorecard for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014. USAID also received “A” grades for FY 2013 and 2011, demonstrating significant improvements from the “F” grades received in FY 2009 and prior years. Mr. Vera was elected and served as Chair of the Federal OSDBU Directors Interagency Council in FY’s 2013, 2011, and 2010. From 2001 to 2008, Mr. Vera successfully managed the Small Business Program at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). From 1993 to 2001, Mr. Vera established and managed the Smithsonian Institution’s Supplier Diversity Program. Mr. Vera, a native of Chile, has an MBA from George Mason University and a B.S. degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Maryland.

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