The U.S. Agency for International Development spends most of its money through the assistance and acquisition, or A&A, mechanism. Although the biggest portion of it goes through grants and direct payments, a significant sum is spent via contracts.
Based on USASpending, USAID obligated around $6.8 billion through contracts in the fiscal year that ended in September 2023 — accounting for 17.8% of A&A.
This is down $831 million, or 14%, in cash terms, from the previous year.