5 June 2001

The Domain Name Supporting Organization (DNSO) Names Council is seeking to contract with an entity or entities to provide the following distinct but related services:

• Manager, Information and Technical Support Services; and (optionally at this stage),
• Web Infrastructure and Support Services (Internet services provision, including hosting of web site and mailing lists).

It is expected that a 12 month renewable contract will be developed to cover the above services.

Proposals must address the requirements for a Manager, Information and Technical Support Services as outlined below, and may optionally respond to the requirements for Internet services provision. DNSO reserves the option to accept either the full response in such cases or only the first part.

Responses must follow the response format provided. Quotations must be in United States dollars.

The DNSO is a global organisation and there is no geographical location requirement. However, the appointee will be required to operate on-line and must be able to establish and maintain good Internet and telephone connectivity.

The successful applicant will be required to work independently and report to the Chair of the DNSO Names Council or such designate as the chair may appoint from time to time. The contract and payments will be administered by ICANN acting on behalf of DNSO NC.

The intention is to make an appointment under a 12-month renewable consultancy contract, starting from July 2001. A review will be conducted after the first six months of the contract and at that point, if in the considered opinion of the Chair of the DNSO Names Council the performance of the contracted party has been unsatisfactory, DNSO reserves the right to cancel the contract without penalty.

The contract will be administered by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which is located in the USA and is subject to USA laws governing contracts, insurance and liability issues. Contractual terms will be according to a standard form of ICANN contract.

All payments under the contract will be in US currency.

The contracted party will receive a fee for services and will be expected to manage their own office and equipment, and insurances including public liability. They will be a contracted party rather than an employee of either ICANN or DNSO NC.

The DNSO Names Council is seeking to appoint an entity to act as its Manager, Information and Technical Services. It is envisaged that an individual will be nominated to provide these services and will develop an on-going relationship with the DNSO Names Council. It is likely that the Manager will be affiliated with an organisation already involved in either national or international Internet governance, or a participant in the ICANN process.

This is a new and challenging opportunity for a consultant experienced in working in an on-line environment to contribute to the development and administration of the domain name system.

Services are normally to be delivered in an on-line environment and the successful applicant must be able to guarantee reliable Internet and telephonic connectivity. Key deliverables include:

• Provide advice to the Names Council on technical solutions for its information and communication requirements;
• Implement and document solutions as required or directed by the Names Council;
• Provide support for the Names Council and its Chair (e.g. post meeting documents, record teleconferences; obtain approval of Names Council meeting minutes, maintain contact details of members, assist in monitoring expenditures, liase with GA Chair, etc),
• Manage the delivery of Internet services (as described below and including hosting web site, email discussion list, etc)
• Co-ordinate maintenance and updating of web site, email discussion lists, security protocols, etc;
• Manage, develop and update the DNSO web site;
• Create and manage email discussion lists as required;
• Create and document procedures and protocols required for the effective management and delivery of technical services;
• Supervise and provide technical support for on-line voting;
• Monitor and report on traffic, technical and associated business issues, and provide administrative support to the DNSO as directed;
• Report monthly on tasks performed and time taken.

The amount of time spent on the above tasks varies, but it is estimated that the above tasks require on average about 80 hours per month. It should be noted that the workload would tend to be higher around meeting times and during elections and the ability to scale up to meet peak work loads will be required. It should also be noted that travel may be required to international locations for the meetings held in conjunction with ICANN quarterly meetings. If such travel is requested by DNSO, DNSO will meet fares and accommodation costs additional to the quotation in this tender.

Applicants are invited to propose a costing structure which will enable the DNSO NC to accurately predict costs and ensure cost-effectiveness.

The following on line services must be provided on a 24X7 basis, and with full technical support. This may be a service provided directly by the contracting organisation, or via a sub-contract managed by the organisation.

1. Website hosting
2. E-mail service
3. a secure FTP service
4. Mailing lists service (including automated digesting and automated publishing in the web mailing lists archives, web access to Mailing List administration)
5. Management of DNS service for domain dnso.org (Primary and Secondary DNS)
6. Management of voting and use of voting software
7. Technical Support (on hardware and software, including installing, setting-up, updating, correcting any technical problem, and security)

Current requirements are for a total mailing list population of less than 1000, and for maintenance of less than 10 separate mailing lists. However respondents are expected to quote on the basis of possible expansion to a mailing list population of 2000 and maintenance of 24 mailing lists.

• Pentium III 500MHz, 128Mb RAM (not shared with video card if integrated), 10Gb Harddisk IDE or SCSI. Any comparable system is welcome
• Ethernet card 10/100Mbps
• UPS minimum 1000VA

You must specify in your application if you will perform virtual hosting or will provide server hardware for exclusive hosting of DNSO Internet Services

• Email Software capable of handling multiple domain names (i.e. name@dnso.net as well as name@dnso.org)
• Proven Operating System such as Unix, Linux, FreeBSD or Windows NT.
• BIND or equivalent.
• List server allowing on-line registration of lists and configuration of rules. Majordomo or a similar system is suggested.
• Web Server such as Apache or IIS.
• FTP server

• Any other software required for the proper and most efficient work and administration of DNSO internet services

• The server(s) should be securely maintained in such a way that they may not be used for unauthorized use (such as spamming). This would include closing of unnecessary ports, applying relevant patches etc.
• The physical location of the servers should be in a secure environment with controlled access.
• In the event of system failures, backups must be readily available and a disaster recover plan should be immediately implemented.
• Logs should be periodically checked

• Logical security of equipment and communications facilities
• Router and firewall protection
• Internal network of 10/100Mbps minimum connected by switches that automatically detect 10/100Mbps ethernet cards

DNSO will predetermine detailed selection criteria and weightings for provision of these services before the close of tenders, and will select the most appropriate provider using these pre-determined weightings. Criteria may include, but may not be limited to:

• Proven technical skills and capabilities relevant to the key deliverables outlined above;
• Proven project management skills;
• Proven ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment;
• Demonstrated high level communication skills (the linga franca of the Internet is English and applicants must have high level English language written and oral communication skills, including technical writing skills);
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team in an on-line environment;
• A demonstrated understanding of issues relating to the technical administration of the domain name system (DNS) and the role played by the DNSO and ICANN;
• Cost;
• Quality of service;
• Security and redundancy provisions; and
• Previous experience in providing similar services for international organisations.

In making its final decision, DNSO may request additional information from shortlisted applicants and may decide to request personal interviews.

Ian Peter and Associates Pty Ltd have been engaged by DNSO NC to manage this process. All correspondence and questions should be directed through them and by email as indicated below, and not through staff or office bearers of either ICANN or DNSO.

If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please email immediately to dnsorfp@icann.org and request a copy of the detailed response format. All respondents must complete the response format template to be considered.

Please provide basic email and personal contact details when applying for documentation, in case we need to follow up or provide further information as part of the process.

Proposals should be submitted by email, in the response format provided, to dnsorfp@icann.org and should be received no later than Wednesday, June 20 2001

Proposals received after that date may not be considered.

Requests for further information about the tender requirements may also be submitted by email to dnsorfp@icann.org. Please allow 24 hours for a response to queries raised. Questions proposed by you and our answers may also be circulated to other prospective tenderers with identifying elements removed so that all respondents are equally informed as regards requirements.

Further information on the DNSO and its activities can be found at http://www.icann.org/dnso/dnso.htm and http://www.dnso.org/

Further information about ICANN can be found at http://www.icann.org.