D -- DNS Top Level domain for the United States(usTLD or .us domain)

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@noaa.gov.