[ga] Advisory Regarding the .us TLD

[Danny Younger <dannyyounger@xxxxxxxxx>]

The Department of Commerce/ National
Telecommunications and Information Administration
issued a "sources sought" notice of an intention to
procure centralized management and coordination of
registry, registrar (where specified), database, and
information services for the usTLD. The notice
requests interested parties to provide information
about their technical capability by June 22, 2007. 

"This synopsis is for Sources Sought, which may or may
not result in a Solicitation and does not constitute a
commitment on the part of the Government to purchase
or acquire systems or services.     The Government
will not pay for data or time expended in response to
this synopsis and is not to be construed as a
commitment by the Government to issue a request for
proposal or award a contract as a result of this
synopsis.     This synopsis is for Sources Sought and
planning purposes.

The U. S. Department of Commerce (DoC), National
Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA), is committed to preserving the stability and
security of the Internet domain name and addressing
system (DNS).     NTIA has ensured the stability and
security of the DNS country code top-level domain for
the United States (usTLD or .us domain) by supervising
administration of the usTLD for the benefit of the
nation's Internet community.

     Therefore, in accordance with Federal Acquisition
Regulations (FAR) Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial
Items, DoC intends to procure the services of a
Contractor to manage, maintain, and operate the usTLD
under NTIA's supervision.     
The DoC seeks to acquire centralized management and
coordination of registry, registrar (where specified),
database, and information services for the usTLD. 

The usTLD provides a locus for registering domain
names and serving the Internet community in the United
States.     As such, DoC intends the usTLD be
available to a wide range of registrants.

     Accordingly, the DoC seeks proposals to achieve
the following objectives:     

1.) Ensure that procedures and an accountability
framework for the delegation and the administration of
the usTLD support a more robust, certain, and reliable
DNS.     

2.)     Promote increased use of the usTLD, including
kids.us, by the Internet community of the United
States (including small businesses, consumers,
not-for-profit organizations, and state and local
governments), with a residence or bona fide presence
in the United States by introducing enhanced technical
and other services, disseminating information about
the usTLD, and improving registration and customer
services.     

3.)     Create a centrally administered and
efficiently managed structure that ensures registrant
and consumer confidence, and infrastructure stability
by coordinating delegations and implementing other
appropriate functions.     

4.)     Create a stable and flexible usTLD environment
that advances and encourages innovation and that will
meet the future demands of potential registrants.     

5.)     Ensure continued stability of the entire DNS
and the usTLD, particularly during transition from the
current management structure to the Contractor's
proposed structure and to any successor Contractor's
structure.     

6.)     Manage the usTLD consistent with the Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers' (ICANN)
technical management of the DNS.     

7.)     Adequately protect intellectual property in
the usTLD and as developments in the expanded and the
locality usTLD space may necessitate. In the event of
further expansion of the usTLD space, the Contractor
shall implement a "sunrise period" for qualified
trademark owners to pre-register their trademarks as
domain names prior to the wider registration for
non-trademark owners and a dispute resolution
procedure to address "cybersquatting" conflicts
between trademarks and domain names in the usTLD.     

8.)     Establish and maintain consistent
communication between the Contracting Officer's
Technical Representative (COTR), the Contractor, and
ICANN.     The Contractor shall represent the usTLD in
the ICANN Country Code Names Supporting Organization
(ccNSO) and contribute to ICANN's operating costs as
ICANN may apportion to the usTLD.       

9.)     Promote robust competition within the usTLD,
including registration services, to ensure greater
choice and improved services for usTLD users.

All responsible sources must submit a written
narrative statement of capability including detailed
technical information and other technical literature
sufficient to permit agency analysis.

       Additionally, the purpose of the above request
is for the Government to determine the submitter's
capabilities and qualifications to meet the
requirement.       

Affirmative responses must be received Friday, June
22, 2007 by 12:00 p.m. Noon Eastern Standard Time."   
   

Please submit any and all written responses to Kalika
Boulware, Contract Specialist via email to
kalika.m.boulware[at]noaa.gov 

http://www2.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/AGAMD/PRNTIA9110-7-12841/SynopsisR.html


 
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