BearingPoint snares Afghanistan economic policy reform deal

As Afghanistan makes progress toward a stable democracy, the West Asia country also is taking on economic policy reform.

BearingPoint International Inc. won a three-year, $45 million contract from the U.S. Agency for International Development to help strengthen the Islamic republic's private sector by continuing to support its economic restructuring, the company said this week.

The McLean, Va., management consulting and systems integration firm is providing support for the speedy transition of Afghanistan through the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and sustainable economic and social development that is responsive to citizens' needs.

BearingPoint will work to reinforce economic governance that will allow the private sector to expand production, jobs and income. The company also will set up recruitment and training programs for new civil service employees.

To accomplish these tasks, BearingPoint will work with Afghanistan's finance, commerce and communications ministries, the central bank and other areas of government.

The new award builds on BearingPoint's previous USAID contract in Afghanistan, which began in November 2002 and called for the company to provide initial support, training, and policy and process development to assist in rebuilding the country after years of conflict.

Earlier this year, BearingPoint won a three-year, $6.9 million contract to help Afghanistan's finance ministry build its accounting and financial management capacity, manage incoming funding from international donors, and develop strategies for managing its human resources.

BearingPoint is No. 24 on Washington Technology's Top 100 list of federal prime contractors, ranked according to their IT revenue.