Contact: USAID Press Office,202-712-4320; Public Information,202-712-4810

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 /Standard Newswire/ -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, has republished and amended its notice of public information collection, originally issued on July 23, 2007. Comments on this notice are due on or before December 3, 2007. The notice includes a revised Partner Information Form, intended to be used, initially, by USAID's Mission for West Bank and Gaza in the evaluation and review process related to contracts, grants and other assistance.

Should USAID ultimately approve and implement its proposed Partner Vetting System, then we would expect that this new form will be utilized under that System as well.

USAID strives to be a prudent and responsible steward of U.S. taxpayers' resources and works with many capable and responsible partners in the U.S. and overseas who deliver assistance to communities in need. Therefore, one of the most important aspects of USAID's responsibility to U.S. taxpayers is to further ensure that the funds entrusted to USAID - and provided to our partners to further our international humanitarian and development work - are not inadvertently diverted to those who support, are aligned with or are affiliated with terrorists or terrorist organizations. The Partner Information Form will assist USAID in these efforts.

For more information about USAID, please visit www.usaid.gov.