Faced with the ongoing exit of American troops from Afghanistan, the top U.S. aid agency wants to step up its use of smartphones, satellite imagery and GPS cameras to oversee tax-funded development projects that aid workers no longer will be able to observe with their own eyes.

The U.S. Agency for International Development on Saturday began seeking bids on a new monitoring project contract, which could cost up to $170 million. The agency hopes the five-year project will allow aid work to continue in Afghanistan despite the troop drawdown and satisfy lawmakers and others who have criticized it for weak monitoring.