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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=FR-BE link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-22apr14-en.htm"><span lang=EN-US>http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-22apr14-en.htm</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><br><br>Request for Proposal for Review of Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=date-display-single><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>22 April 2014</span></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN") is seeking a provider to conduct an independent review of the Generic Names Supporting Organization (</span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://gnso.icann.org/en/"><span lang=EN-US>GNSO</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>), as mandated by ICANN's </span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/about/governance/bylaws"><span lang=EN-US>Bylaws</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>As part of ICANN's ongoing commitment to its evolution and improvement, Article IV – Section 4 of ICANN's Bylaws contains provisions for <em><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>"periodic review of the performance and operation of each Supporting Organization, each Supporting Organization Council, each Advisory Committee (other than the Governmental Advisory Committee), and the Nominating Committee."</span></em><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>These periodic reviews present ICANN structures with opportunities for continuous improvement through consistent application of compliance review principles to objectively measure performance relative to specific and quantifiable criteria developed by ICANN based on the unique nature of its structures. The resulting implementation of improvements and the systematic means of measuring performance and validating effectiveness of implementation are of utmost importance to the ongoing legitimacy of ICANN.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The GNSO is the policy-making body responsible for generic top-level domains, such as .COM, .NET, and .ORG. Its members include representatives from generic Top Level Domains (gTLD) registries, gTLD registrars, intellectual property interest, Internet service providers, businesses and non-commercial interests. The GNSO strives to keep gTLDs operating in a fair, orderly fashion across one global Internet, while promoting innovation and competition.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Given the significant increases in the number and nature of the generic Top Level Domains resulting from the recent launch of the New gTLD Program, the upcoming review of the GNSO is of critical importance to the ICANN community. ICANN is planning to start the review on 1 July 2014, with an anticipated duration of 6 months, and is seeking qualified providers to conduct the review in a timely and efficient manner.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>For additional information and instructions for submitting responses please see </span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/news/rfps/rfp-gnso-review-22apr14-en.zip"><span lang=EN-US>http://www.icann.org/en/news/rfps/rfp-gnso-review-22apr14-en.zip</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> [ZIP, 672 KB].<o:p></o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=3 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><a name=activity id=activity></a><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Activity<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dates<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>RFP published<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>22 April 2014<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Participants to indicate interest in submitting RFP<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>30 April<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Participant proposals due by<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>13 May<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Target for participant presentations (finalists)<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Week of 19 May (May 19-23)<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Target for Final evaluations and selection of vendor (includes contracting and award to participant)<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>10 June<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Board appointment of independent reviewer<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>26 June<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Estimated start of implementation<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>1 July<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Final Report<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>15 January 2015<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:FR-BE'>Glen de Saint Géry<br>GNSO Secretariat<br><b><a href="mailto:gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org">gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org</a></b><br><b><a href="http://gnso.icann.org/">http://gnso.icann.org</a></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>