[council] Request for Proposal for Review of Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO)

[Glen de Saint Géry <Glen@xxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-22apr14-en.htm

Request for Proposal for Review of Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO)
22 April 2014

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN") is seeking a 
provider to conduct an independent review of the Generic Names Supporting 
Organization (GNSO<http://gnso.icann.org/en/>), as mandated by ICANN's 
Bylaws<http://www.icann.org/en/about/governance/bylaws>.

As part of ICANN's ongoing commitment to its evolution and improvement, Article 
IV - Section 4 of ICANN's Bylaws contains provisions for "periodic review of 
the performance and operation of each Supporting Organization, each Supporting 
Organization Council, each Advisory Committee (other than the Governmental 
Advisory Committee), and the Nominating Committee."

These periodic reviews present ICANN structures with opportunities for 
continuous improvement through consistent application of compliance review 
principles to objectively measure performance relative to specific and 
quantifiable criteria developed by ICANN based on the unique nature of its 
structures. The resulting implementation of improvements and the systematic 
means of measuring performance and validating effectiveness of implementation 
are of utmost importance to the ongoing legitimacy of ICANN.

The GNSO is the policy-making body responsible for generic top-level domains, 
such as .COM, .NET, and .ORG. Its members include representatives from generic 
Top Level Domains (gTLD) registries, gTLD registrars, intellectual property 
interest, Internet service providers, businesses and non-commercial interests. 
The GNSO strives to keep gTLDs operating in a fair, orderly fashion across one 
global Internet, while promoting innovation and competition.

Given the significant increases in the number and nature of the generic Top 
Level Domains resulting from the recent launch of the New gTLD Program, the 
upcoming review of the GNSO is of critical importance to the ICANN community. 
ICANN is planning to start the review on 1 July 2014, with an anticipated 
duration of 6 months, and is seeking qualified providers to conduct the review 
in a timely and efficient manner.

For additional information and instructions for submitting responses please see 
http://www.icann.org/en/news/rfps/rfp-gnso-review-22apr14-en.zip [ZIP, 672 KB].
Activity

Dates

RFP published

22 April 2014

Participants to indicate interest in submitting RFP

30 April

Participant proposals due by

13 May

Target for participant presentations (finalists)

Week of 19 May (May 19-23)

Target for Final evaluations and selection of vendor (includes contracting and 
award to participant)

10 June

Board appointment of independent reviewer

26 June

Estimated start of implementation

1 July

Final Report

15 January 2015



Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat
gnso.secretariat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:gnso.secretariat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
http://gnso.icann.org<http://gnso.icann.org/>