ICANN New gTLD Program: Next Round Sourcing Timeline
ICANN seeks qualified vendors to support key evaluation areas for the applications of the New gTLD Program: Next Round.
This page outlines when Next Round Requests for Quotations (RFQs), Requests For Information (RFIs) and Requests For Proposals (RFPs) are planned to be issued. Each evaluation area includes a brief description of the services needed and the role vendors will play in supporting ICANN's Next Round of new gTLD applications. If you are (or know) a potential provider for any of the listed services, please direct indications of interest and/or inquiries to GDS-Vendor-Services@icann.org.
The timeline provided below is estimated and is subject to change based on business needs.
| Evaluation Category Title | Type | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
Support Applicant Review Panel (SARP) Description: Assemble one or more SARPs that will conduct evaluations of all Applicant Support Program (ASP) applications received from 19 November 2024 through 19 November 2025. Status: RFP closed | RFP | February 2024 |
Dispute Resolution Service Provider (DRSP) Description: Administer the resolution of disputes arising from valid objection grounds, adjudicate on potential appeals to their determinations from the parties, and provide mediation services to the parties, if requested. Status: RFP closed for submissions | RFP | March 2025 |
String Similarity & Variant Justification String Similarity Description: Conduct algorithmic and linguistic evaluations of applied-for gTLDs, identifying similarities that could cause user confusion and ensuring unique and distinguishable strings. Variant Justification Description: Ensure that any applied-for gTLD variant string meets the minimal community needs, given caution by the technical community to reduce the variant strings being delegated. | RFI RFP | June 2025 Q4 2025 |
Auction Description: Facilitate auctions for contention sets where multiple applicants apply for the same gTLD, ensuring a fair and transparent resolution process. | RFI RFP | August 2025 Q2 2026 |
Background Screening Description: Conduct comprehensive due diligence on applicants, ensuring compliance with eligibility criteria, including criminal history checks and business due diligence. | RFP | Q3 2025 |
Trademark Database Description: Maintain and operate a centralized repository of verified trademarks to support rights protection mechanisms | RFP | TBD |
Safeguard Assessment Description: Assess proposed gTLDs for security, stability, and public safety concerns, ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place to mitigate potential risks. | RFP | Q4 2025 |
Name Collision Review (Temporary Delegation) Description: Evaluate potential name collision risks, analyze domains that could conflict with applied-for gTLDs, and recommend mitigation strategies. | RFP | Q1 2026 |
Community Priority Evaluation (CPE) Description: Determine whether a community-based application fulfills the CPE criteria and should receive priority in the contention set. | RFP | August 2025 |
Financial Capability/Evaluation Description: Assess the financial stability of applicants, ensuring they possess sufficient resources to operate a gTLD registry. | RFP | Q1 2026 |
Geographic Names Review and Reserved Names Review Geographic Names Description: Determine whether each applied-for gTLD string represents a Geographic Name, and verify the relevance and authenticity of the supporting documentation where necessary. Evaluate the geographic string check and the geographic verification for those names determined to be geographic. Reserved Names Description: Determine whether an applied-for gTLD string represents a reserved name and verify the relevance and authenticity of the supporting documentation. | RFI RFP | Q3 2025 Q1 2026 |
Independent Objector Description: Independent third-party vendor to assess and, where appropriate file objections as part of the New gTLD Program dispute resolution process, which is designed to protected certain interests and rights. | RFP | Q1 2026 |
Name Collision: High Risk Name Identification Description: Identify gTLDs that pose heightened security or stability risks, ensuring proactive measures are in place before delegation. | RFP | Q2 2026 |
Name Collision: High Risk String Mitigation Plan Review Description: Review applicants' mitigation plans for high-risk gTLDs, ensuring effective strategies are in place before delegation | RFP | Q3 2026 |
Quality Control Description: Ensures the accuracy, consistency, and integrity of application evaluations by developing and implementing robust quality control processes for the next round | RFP | TBD |
Once ICANN is no longer actively sourcing for an evaluation area, the status will indicate such on this page. For full details about all closed and currently open RFQs, RFIs and RFPs, please consult the ICANN Requests for Proposals (RFPs) page.