USAID/West Bank & Gaza Mission Order No. 21

21 outlines procedures to ensure that assistance programs do not inadvertently provide support to entities or individuals associated with terrorism. The mission order describes the purpose and scope of vetting procedures, which are designed to prevent the provision of assistance to individuals or entities that advocate, plan, sponsor, engage in, or have engaged in terrorist activity. Prior to the obligation of funds for assistance in the West Bank and Gaza, the Secretary of State must take all necessary steps to ensure that such assistance is not provided to or through any individual, private or government entity, or educational institution that has been identified as involved in or advocating terrorist activity. The Secretary of State must also establish procedures specifying the steps to be taken in carrying out this subsection and terminate assistance to any individual, entity, or educational institution determined to be involved in or advocating terrorist activity. The mission order specifies the types of awards that are subject to vetting, including contracts, grants, trainees, and other forms of in-kind assistance. Non-US organizations or individuals that receive awards exceeding $25,000 are subject to vetting, as are recipients of cash or in-kind assistance, including public international organizations. Trainees who receive funding for training, study tours, or invitational travel in the US or a third country are also subject to vetting, as are individuals who receive training in the West Bank or Gaza lasting more than five consecutive work days. Vetting is required for other direct recipients of cash or in-kind assistance, including technical assistance, unless exceptions apply. Exceptions include individuals who receive jobs under employment generation activities, vendors of goods or services acquired by USAID contractors and grantees in the ordinary course of business, and ultimate beneficiaries of cash or in-kind assistance, such as food, water, medical care, micro-enterprise loans, shelter, etc., provided the total value of assistance per occasion does not exceed $1,000 for an individual, $2,500 for an organization, or $5,000 for micro-enterprise loans or assistance. The mission order also outlines exceptions to the vetting requirements, including situations where there is a reason to believe that the beneficiary of assistance or the vendor of goods or services commits, attempts to commit, advocates, facilitates, or participates in terrorist acts or has done so in the past. The $25,000 threshold for contracts and subcontracts is cumulative for multiple awards to the same firm or individual within a 12-month period, and vetting applies only to first-tier and second-tier recipients. Palestinian government officials are subject to vetting, as are colleges, universities, and other educational institutions. No one under the age of 16 will be vetted.