C. Chubb

USAID has implemented maximum telework to promote social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Priorities in many of our operating units have shifted, thus impacting processing response times. Please note that USAID is unable to conduct a search for physical records while teleworking.  As a result, all search requests will be limited to electronic records, unless you notify us that you want your request to remain open until USAID employees have physical access to their workspaces. We appreciate your understanding during this time.  If you have any questions, please email us at foia@usaid.gov .  Thank you.

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V/r, FOIA Specialist US AID - US Agency for International Development FOIA Office Bureau for Management, Office of Management Services, Information and Records Division (M/MS/IRD) | foia@USAID.gov

May 20, 2021 RE:  USAID FOIA No. F-00181-21 (Acknowledgment Letter) Dear Mr. Boguslaw: Thank you for your letter dated May 19, 2021, requesting information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552.  The tracking number for your request is F-00181-21.  Please use this number when corresponding with our office. At this time, we are in the process of perfecting your request.  A perfected request for records reasonably describes such records and is made in accordance with published rules stating the time, place, fees (if any) and procedures to be followed.  This process includes reviewing the request for clarity and fee category determination and related commitment to pay, if applicable. Once your request is perfected, you will be notified of the FOIA Specialist assigned to process your case.  If you have questions, please contact us at .  Please cite the above-referenced number when corresponding with our office. (mailto:foia@usaid.gov) foia@usaid.gov Thank you. Sincerely, Diamond Johnson
FOIA Specialist
Bureau for Management
Office of Management Services
Information and Records Division

May 20, 2021 USAID FOIA Request No. F-00181-21 (Immediate Action Required)
Dear Mr. Boguslaw:
Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).  This is in response to your May 19, 2021 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.  Specifically, you requested all emails between USAID Gaza Desk Administrator Courtney Chubb and any of the following: Samantha Power and/or COLIN THOMAS-JENSEN and/or ROBERT JENKINS, and/or ANDREW PLITT between the dates of May 8, 2021 and May 20, 2021. (Date Range for Record Search: From 5/8/2021 To 5/20/2021).
Clarification
The FOIA requires that requests describe the records sought with sufficient detail to allow an agency employee familiar with the subject area of the request to locate the records with a reasonable amount of effort.  The FOIA was not intended to reduce government agency staff to researchers or full-time investigators on behalf of FOIA requesters.  In this instance, your request does not adequately describe the records sought; therefore, we are unable to process it at this time.  If you wish to pursue your request, please provide as much information as possible, such as: how the subject matter relates to USAID; name of the country and/or program/project; and/or persons involved. Please provide us specific search terms for the records.
Your request has been placed on hold.  Please note that, if we do not receive your written response clarifying the types of records you seek--as articulated above--within 10 days from the date of this communication, we will consider the nonresponse a withdrawal of your request.  As such, your request will be closed and no further action will be taken on it. If you wish to discuss further, you may contact this office at foia@usaid.gov.
Thank you.
Sincerely, Diamond Johnson
FOIA Specialist
Bureau for Management
Office of Management Services
Information and Records Division

May 24, 2021 RE:  USAID FOIA No. F-00181-21 (FOIA Specialist Assignment Email) Dear Mr. Boguslaw: This acknowledges receipt of your May 19, 2021, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  Specifically, you requested records concerning all emails between USAID Gaza Desk Administrator Courtney Chubb and any of the following: Samantha Power and/or COLIN THOMAS-JENSEN and/or ROBERT JENKINS, and/or ANDREW PLITT between the dates of May 8, 2021 and May 20, 2021 containing the words "Gaza" "West Bank" "Netanyahu" "Bombing""Hospital" or "School". This request seeks to identify the role of USAID in responding to the recent flair up of violence in Gaza and the West Bank in response to Israel's eviction of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah. (Date Range for Record Search: From 5/8/2021 To 5/20/2021). You also requested a fee waiver.
Fee Waiver
The FOIA provides that fees should be waived or reduced if disclosure of the information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.  As a member of the media, the only applicable fee is duplication.  Duplication is $0.10 per page, but the first 100 pages are free.  After review of the fee waiver criteria, your fee waiver request is moot.  Since the only applicable fee is duplication, and USAID routinely furnishes responsive records to FOIA requesters in electronic format, it's most likely there will be no duplication fees to assess.
FOIA Specialist
Your request has been assigned to Theresa Morris, Senior FOIA Specialist.  You may contact Theresa Morris by email at thmorris@usaid.gov or by phone on 202-921-5003.  Please reference the tracking number cited above in any future correspondence.
Extending the FOIA’s Time Limits due to Unusual Circumstances The FOIA provides that an agency  may extend its time limits when “unusual circumstances” occur in the processing of a request. See 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B)(i) (2016). Those “unusual circumstances” are set forth in the statute, 5 U.S.C § 552(a)(6)(B)(iii), and are described as: 1) The need to search for records from field facilities or other locations separate from the office processing the request; 2) The need to search, collect and examine voluminous records; and 3) The need for consultation with another agency. Based upon the records you have requested, we have determined that one or more unusual circumstances will occur during the processing of your request. Accordingly, your response time-limit has been extended beyond the 20 days required by statute; therefore, 10 additional processing days have been added to your request. To mitigate this action, you may limit the scope of the request so that it can be processed more quickly or to arrange an alternative time to respond. If you have any questions or wish to discuss reformulation or an alternative time frame for the processing of your request, you may contact the assigned FOIA Specialist noted above. You may also contact USAID’s FOIA Public Liaison, Christopher Colbow, at foia@usaid.gov.

Additionally, you may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services offered: Office of Government Information Services National Archives and Records Administration 8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS, College Park, Maryland 20740-6001 E-mail: ogis@nara.gov Telephone: 202-741-5770; Toll Free: 1-877-684-6448 Fax: 202-741-5769 Thank you for your interest in USAID. Sincerely, Diamond Johnson
FOIA Specialist
Bureau for Management
Office of Management Services
Information and Records Division

Good Afternoon Mr. Boguslaw:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) regrets the
delay in responding to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
Unfortunately, USAID is experiencing a backlog of FOIA requests. Please
know that USAID management is very committed to providing responses to FOIA
requests and remedying the FOIA backlog.

Please be advised that FOIA F-00181-21 has been reassigned to me, Anthony
Gracey for processing. Your request has been tasked to the Program Office
for responsible documents, and I am waiting for a response from the Program
Office.

If you have any questions concerning your request, please send me an email
at agracey@usaid.gov between the hours of 9:00am and 5:00pm, Monday through
Friday.

Respectfully yours,

Anthony
Anthony E Gracey
FOIA Specialist
USAID - U.S. Agency for International Development
Bureau for Management, Office of Management Services
Information and Records Division (M/MS/IRD)
USAID Annex, Room 2.4.
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20523
Email: agracey@usaid.gov

Good Morning Mr. Boguslaw:

Your FOIA Requester is still with the Program Office for responsive
documents. As soon as I hear something from the Program Office, I will
update you with further information.

Thank you for your continued patience and dealings with USAID.

Sincerely,

Anthony E Gracey
FOIA Specialist
USAID - U.S. Agency for International Development
Bureau for Management, Office of Management Services
Information and Records Division (M/MS/IRD)
USAID Annex, Room 2.4.
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20523
Email: agracey@usaid.gov

Dear Mr. Boguslaw:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) regrets thedelay in responding to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Please be advised that FOIA No. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­F-00181-21 is still being processed.  We do not have an estimated date on when aresponse will be sent to you.  Nevertheless, we are working diligently ongetting one out to you soon.
USAID regrets any delay incurred in complying with your request and solicitsyour continued patience.  If you have any questions concerning your requests,please send me an email at michsmith@usaid.gov , between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Best regards, Michelle Smith

Greetings -

Thank you for your message. I am out of the office with limited
access to my email.

If you have an urgent FOIA matter, please forward a detailed message
to foia@usaid.gov. Otherwise, I will respond to you after my scheduled
return to the office on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

Thank you.

Best,
Alecia

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*Alecia S. SillahSupervisory FOIA Team LeadUSAID – US Agency for
International DevelopmentBureau for Management, Office of Management
Services, Information and Records Division (M/MS/IRD) *
*USAID Annex, Room 2.4.0C * **1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW ** * **Washington,
DC 20523 *

*Direct: (202) 916-4660 • asillah@usaid.gov <asillah@usaid.gov>*

Greetings -

Thank you for your message. I am out of the office with limited
access to my email.

If you have an urgent FOIA matter, please forward a detailed message
to foia@usaid.gov. Otherwise, I will respond to you after my scheduled
return to the office on Tuesday, December 14, 2021.

Thank you.

Best,
Alecia

--

*Alecia S. SillahSupervisory FOIA Team LeadUSAID – US Agency for
International DevelopmentBureau for Management, Office of Management
Services, Information and Records Division (M/MS/IRD) *
*USAID Annex, Room 2.4.0C * **1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW ** * **Washington,
DC 20523 *

*Direct: (202) 916-4660 • asillah@usaid.gov <asillah@usaid.gov>*

Greetings -

Thank you for your message. I am out of the office with limited
access to my email.

If you have an urgent FOIA matter, please forward a detailed message
to foia@usaid.gov. Otherwise, I will respond to you after my scheduled
return to the office on Monday, February 14, 2022.

Thank you.

Best,
Alecia

--

*Alecia S. SillahSupervisory FOIA Team LeadUSAID – US Agency for
International DevelopmentBureau for Management, Office of Management
Services, Information and Records Division (M/MS/IRD) *
*USAID Annex, Room 2.4.0C * **1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW ** * **Washington,
DC 20523 *

*Direct: (202) 916-4660 • asillah@usaid.gov <asillah@usaid.gov>*

Greetings -

Thank you for your message. I am out of the office with limited
access to my email.

If you have an urgent FOIA matter, please forward a detailed message
to foia@usaid.gov. Otherwise, I will respond to you after my scheduled
return to the office on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.

Thank you.

Best,
Alecia

--

*Alecia S. SillahSupervisory FOIA Team LeadUSAID – US Agency for
International DevelopmentBureau for Management, Office of Management
Services, Information and Records Division (M/MS/IRD) *
*USAID Annex, Room 2.4.0C * **1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW ** * **Washington,
DC 20523 *

*Direct: (202) 916-4660 • asillah@usaid.gov <asillah@usaid.gov>*

Greetings -

Thank you for your message. I am out of the office with limited
access to my email.

If you have an urgent FOIA matter, please forward a detailed message
to foia@usaid.gov. Otherwise, I will respond to you after my scheduled
return to the office on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

Thank you.

Best,
Alecia

--

*Alecia S. SillahSupervisory FOIA Team LeadUSAID – US Agency for
International DevelopmentBureau for Management, Office of Management
Services, Information and Records Division (M/MS/IRD) *
*USAID Annex, Room 2.4.0C * **1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW ** * **Washington,
DC 20523 *

*Direct: (202) 916-4660 • asillah@usaid.gov <asillah@usaid.gov>*

Greetings Mr. Boguslaw - Kindly be advised that we are actively reviewing
the responsive records and anticipate issuing a response o/b June 30, 2022.

Thank you.

*Alecia S. SillahSupervisory FOIA Team LeadUSAID – US Agency for
International DevelopmentBureau for Management, Office of Management
Services, Information and Records Division (M/MS/IRD) *
*USAID Annex, Room 2.4.0C * **1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW ** * **Washington,
DC 20523 *

*Direct: (202) 916-4660 • asillah@usaid.gov <asillah@usaid.gov>*

Greetings Mr. Boguslaw,

Attached is the final response letter and documents pertaining to your May
19, 2021, Freedom of Information Act request to the U.S. Agency for
International Development.

Kind regards,

*Tiffanie M. WoodlandGovernment Information SpecialistUSAID – US Agency for
International DevelopmentBureau for Management, Office of Management
Services, Information and Records Division (M/MS/IRD) *

*Office:202-921-5006*
*Direct: 202-706-2421*