Upcoming Courses and Webinars



Share:

Working with Development Essentials has been an amazing learning experience, a great confidence builder and financially beneficial. Chris O’Donnell guided us through the grant process; teaching us how to understand the donor application, how to write proposal content that addresses the questions in the application yet stayed true to our mission, the importance of documenting our submission date and time, and finally the art of follow-up. Development Essentials taught us the process – not just how to fill out the application. Thank you Chris!

Marcia Selva, Founder & President, Global Community Service Foundation

See All Testimonials >

Tools for Today


Development Essentials offers three consulting services at a fixed price. Many of our clients view these consultancies as useful follow-up assistance to our most popular courses.

Executive Consultations for USG Awards

Executive consultations are designed to assist senior leadership address with the most challenging strategies and issues facing contractors and grantees.

Solicitation Analysis and Proposal Strategy

Our team can analyze and provide a strategy for RFPs, RFAs, APS’, associate award and task order solicitations.

Proposal Analysis and Review

As a consultation we can offer a review of your draft technical application and cost application.

SEE MORE SERVICES >

Recent News


USAID Sets Ambitious Goal: Complete All Country Development Cooperation Strategies By December 2020

In the 2019 USAID Financial Report to Congress, the agency set an ambitious goal–incorporate the Journey to Self-relian ...

GAO Found, Some Federal Procurement Data Elements are Questionable

GAO-14-304 published March 26, 2014 Noncompetitive Contracts Based on Urgency Need Additional Oversight. GAO examined 62 DOD, ...

USAID Could Miss USAID Forward 30 Percent Target to Local Entities 

While USAID’s latest data on USAID Forward released in April indicates USAID is more than halfway to the 30 percent goal by ...

READ MORE NEWS >

Sign Up For Updates


Sign up for the newsletter and periodic updates about Upcoming Courses, Blog Updates, and Recent News

Meet Chris O’Donnell: Empowering Today’s Leaders

Chris O'DonnellChris O’Donnell has over 33 years of service with the U.S. government. Most recently as a consultant and founder of Development Essentials, a Limited Liability Company registered in Virginia. In this capacity he has advised U.S. Private Volunteer Organizations (PVOs) and for profit organizations regarding all aspects of winning USAID awards and effective managing contracts and grants. Development Essentials brings the critical tools via an interactive course format to field practitioners for a modest price, balancing the perspectives of the field and headquarters to advance your programs.

Chris is a 1984 graduate of the U.S. Air Forces Academy in Colorado Springs. Prior to admission he was an aircraft mechanic and attended the U.S. Preparatory Academy. While on active duty, he served in Operation Desert Storm, Spain and Italy and in the U.S. as an aircraft maintenance officer managing up to 800 personnel supporting 75 aircraft.

In 1997, Chris joined the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Bureau for Humanitarian Response’s Office of Transition Initiatives, a newly formed office responding to the needs of priority countries emerging from a political transition. Over eight years Chris drafted technical documents for contract and grant awards and as an evaluation committee chairperson led the technical evaluation, while supporting the Office of Acquisition and Assistance with cost and price analysis and negotiations. Following award, Chris also assisted with program start-up, management and close-out for programs based in the Philippines, Indonesia, East Timor, Peru, Kosovo and Iraq.

In January 2005 Chris joined the Foreign Service as a Contracting Officer (CO) assigned to the East Africa Regional Mission, Nairobi Kenya. As the principle CO for the Kenya Mission, a $480 million portfolio, he supported the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the Presidential Malaria Initiative as well as all five mission teams. In this position, Chris drafted solicitations, oversaw evaluations, conducted negotiations, provided award administration and close-out to 50-70 awards annually. He has in-depth experience with various awards to include contracts, task orders, cooperative agreements, grants and associate awards. Throughout his career he continued to advance his knowledge with advanced course work and independent study. While in Kenya Chris also served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a major, implementing bilateral military programs and developing grants for partner African nations.

Chris founded Development Essentials in 2012.

View the Course Calendar or contact us for more information.

Read More >

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is empty