US Top Level Domain (usTLD) Registry Management Services

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) seeks an Administrator for the United States country code Top Level Domain (usTLD) registry. This Request for Proposal outlines requirements for managing the usTLD, including background, objectives, and scope of services. The Administrator will provide baseline services, modernize usTLD operations, and advance a multistakeholder approach to Internet governance. Key responsibilities include ensuring secure and reliable usTLD operations, managing registrar accreditation, implementing a U.S. Nexus Requirement, combating DNS abuse, and protecting intellectual property. The Contractor must be a U.S. entity, operate at no cost to the government (generating revenue through fees), and adhere to strict security, privacy, and reporting standards. The contract has a 7-year performance period, with government ownership of all usTLD data.

The document, identified as 1331L526R13350002-0001 .usTLD, pertains to Questions & Answers for the US Top Level Domain (usTLD) Registry Management Services. The core issue raised is the absence of an Appendix containing Job Descriptions, which is referenced in Performance Work Statement (PWS) Paragraph 8.0,

This document outlines a no-cost contract RFP from the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) for a usTLD administrator. The contract includes a 9-month transition, a 27-month base period, and four 1-year option periods, totaling 7 years. The selected contractor will not receive government funding but can charge approved, fair, and reasonable fees to third parties. Key responsibilities include ensuring the secure, stable, and reliable operation of the .us domain, developing policy, and participating in multistakeholder Internet governance. Proposals will be evaluated in two phases: Phase 1 on demonstrated experience and approach, and Phase 2 on work statement submissions, oral briefings, and a fee structure with cost narrative. The evaluation prioritizes technical factors over cost, with a focus on compliance, DNS abuse mitigation, transparency, and Section 508 accessibility for electronic documents. Offerors must be actively registered in SAM and adhere to strict submission guidelines.