Re: [ga] DOC Notice of Intent for contracting the IANA function

[Karl Auerbach <karl@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Martin Hannigan wrote:
> At 08:24 PM 5/21/2006, Danny Younger wrote:
> > http://www.fedbizopps.gov/spg/DOC/OS/OAM/DOCNTIA%2D0001/SynopsisP.html

> Can someone here who actually understands the process the government is 
> using explain to me exactly what this means as related to the IANA function? From
> my experience, a lot of these activities are standard government operations
> and housekeeping from my past experience and usually mean little.

Well, I'm no expert on the rules of Federal procurement, but what this 
means is that NTIA has decided that nobody else but ICANN can do "the 
IANA function" and that anybody who wants to say otherwise has a couple 
of weeks to put together a completely formed, comprehensive proposal to 
replace ICANN in the performance of that job.

One of the substantial hurdles to this is that the job is extremely 
non-defined.  Yes, there are phrases that hint at some of the duties, 
but the exact deliverables, performance standards, relationships with 
third parties, government provided rights and facilities, etc etc are 
all not described.  That makes it impossible for anyone else to make a bid.

Moreover, the linkage of this procurement to other relationships between 
the USG and ICANN are not described, nor is there any statement anywehre 
about the fate of the L root server.  (I asked NTIA about this when they 
put out their RFI and they said that the L root was *not* included, but 
it is not clear to me that that RFI and this sole-source procurement 
have a legally recognizable relationship.)

And there are substantial questions that are not addressed due to the 
vague nature of the procurement.  For example, can the IANA operator 
charge money to third parties, such as the IETF or the RIRs for the 
performance of tasks under this agreement?  Considering that the RIRs 
charge money for the sub-allocations they make from the IANA delegation 
to the RIRs, it only makes sense for IANA to be able to charge money as 
well.

Overall, its part of the continuing hubris of NTIA and the US DoC.

What is really sad is that one of the NTIA architects of that hubris was 
named to fill the male seat for north america on the UN/IGF Advisory group.

		--karl--