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US Top Level Domain (usTLD) Registry Management Services

COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF.OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY.DEPT OF COMMERCE SSPO
SAM.govSolicitationNAICS 561110DCposted Apr 20, 2026due May 18, 2026
View on SAM.gov ↗
Closed 31 days ago
Mon, May 18, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC

Summary

The Department of Commerce seeks a contractor to administer the .usTLD (United States country code Top Level Domain), providing baseline services including stable, secure DNS operations, policy development, and multistakeholder engagement while collecting fees from third parties approved by the Contracting Officer. Eligible offerors must be United States entities incorporated in one of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territories, with a physical U.S. address at time of bid submission and all core registry services remaining within the United States. Phase 1 submissions are due by 18 May 2026, with the government conducting a two-phase evaluation process wherein Phase 1 evaluates demonstrated experience, Phase 2 evaluates work statement submissions and fee structure, and award is anticipated by 30 June 2026.

6 citations
  1. synopsis — “The Department seeks an Administrator for the .usTLD to provide both the baseline services described in accordance with the attached Requirements Document.”
  2. ATTACHMENT+J.1+Requirements+Document+%28PWS%29.pdf· p.5 — “The Contractor may establish and collect fees from third parties, other than the U.S. Government, for the requirements performed under this Contract.”
  3. ATTACHMENT+J.1+Requirements+Document+%28PWS%29.pdf· p.5 — “A United States entity or organization that is (i) incorporated within one of the fifty (50) U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or any of the United States possessions or territories.”
  4. ATTACHMENT+J.1+Requirements+Document+%28PWS%29.pdf· p.6 — “The Contractor shall possess and maintain through the performance of this procurement a physical address within the United States and must be able to demonstrate that all core registry services will remain within one of the fifty (50) U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or any of the United States possessions or territories.”
  5. synopsis — “the Phase 1 Submission due date is 18 May 2026.”
  6. 1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.24 — “Phase 1 Submissions Due 18 May 2026; Phase 2 Submissions Due 8 June 2026; Award 30 June 2026”

Extracted requirements

Contract type cite
Cost-Reimbursable
Period of performance cite
7 years total: 36 months base period (inclusive of up to 9 months transition) + four 1-year option periods
Awards expected cite
Single award
Set-aside
—
Past performance cite
5 yrs
Certifications cite
ISO 27001, SOC2
Notable terms cite
  • No-cost contract to government; contractor may collect fees from third parties
  • Must serve as usTLD Administrator overseeing all services
  • Strict operational, data, and governance separation required if affiliated registrars operate
  • Foreign majority ownership prohibited; must be US entity incorporated in US
  • Must manage 2+ million domains under management with 5+ years operating experience
  • Section 508 compliance required for all public-facing websites and documents
  • Organizational conflict of interest mitigation required per CAR 1352.209-74
  • Two-phase evaluation process with advisory down-select
  • Post-award negotiations possible with best-suited offeror
Not triggered: Bid bond · Performance bond · Davis-Bacon · Service Contract Act
Show 30 citations (15 fields backed by source quotes)
Past performance years
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.26 — “When asked to provide experience against the question/prompts below, the Offeror shall use no more than three (3) projects during the last five (5) years”
Key personnel
ATTACHMENT+J.1+Requirements+Document+%28PWS%29.pdf· p.21 — “The Contractor shall provide a finalized management plan within 30 days of award that details the composition of the personnel involved in the work”
Location restrictions
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.8 — “The requirements of this contract shall be performed in the United States.”
ATTACHMENT+J.1+Requirements+Document+%28PWS%29.pdf· p.5 — “all core registry services will remain within one of the fifty (50) U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or any of the United States possessions or territories”
Notable terms
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.3 — “This is a no-cost contract. The Contractor will not receive any funding from the Government during the performance of this contract.”
ATTACHMENT+J.1+Requirements+Document+%28PWS%29.pdf· p.5 — “The Contractor may establish and collect fees from third parties, other than the U.S. Government, for the requirements performed under this Contract.”
ATTACHMENT+J.1+Requirements+Document+%28PWS%29.pdf· p.5 — “The Contractor shall serve as the usTLD Administrator, overseeing all of the services listed herein”
ATTACHMENT+J.1+Requirements+Document+%28PWS%29.pdf· p.5 — “the Contractor registry operator maintains strict operational, data, and governance separation from any affiliated registrars”
ATTACHMENT+J.2+usTLD+Questions+and+Answers.pdf· p.1 — “The Contractor must be an American company with a principle place of business in the United States. Foreign majority ownership of the Contractor is prohibited.”
ATTACHMENT+J.2+usTLD+Questions+and+Answers.pdf· p.1 — “Provide evidence that you have been managing and/or operating a TLD with at least two million domains under management during the past five years”
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.13 — “vendors must ensure that all electronic documents (e.g. public facing websites, WHOIS database, etc.) that they prepare will meet the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act”
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.11 — “CAR 1352.209-74 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST (APR 2010)”
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.24 — “The Government will evaluate the Factor 1: 'Demonstrated Experience and Approach' submissions and provide advisory down-select notifications to Offerors.”
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.31 — “Exchanges with Best-Suited Offeror: Once the Government determines the Offeror that is the best-suited to execute the requirements of this solicitation, the Government reserves the right to communicate with only that offeror”
Certifications
ATTACHMENT+J.1+Requirements+Document+%28PWS%29.pdf· p.8 — “must adopt and maintain an effective Information Security Management System in compliance with ISO 27001 or SOC2”
ATTACHMENT+J.1+Requirements+Document+%28PWS%29.pdf· p.9 — “The Registrar must hold either a (i) current effective Information Security Management System certification in compliance with ISO 27001 or SOC2”
Period of performance
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.3 — “This contract consists of a base period of 36 months (inclusive of a transition period up to 9 months), and four (4) one year ordering periods for a total ordering period of 7 years”
Contract type
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.3 — “This is a no-cost contract.”
Awards expected
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.31 — “The Government anticipates establishing a single contract with the contractor whose Offer is determined to best meet the needs of the Government”
Prior award piid
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.23 — “Registry Services LLC 21575 Ridgetop Circle Sterling, VA 20166 Contract No. 1331L519C13350044”
Submission method
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.24 — “Proposals shall be submitted via email to Jacqueline Brown, jbrown4@doc.gov and BGabriel@doc.gov”
Submission format
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.23 — “Text shall be single-spaced with a minimum of one-inch margins on all sides. All written submissions shall be 12-point font, Times New Roman.”
Total page limit
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.25 — “Phase 1 Submission: Technical Volume I (PDF) Factor 1: Demonstrated Experience & Approach 15 Pages”
Volumes
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.25 — “Table 3: Proposal Instructions Phase 1 Submission: Technical Volume I (PDF) Factor 1: Demonstrated Experience & Approach 15 Pages”
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.25 — “Phase 2 Submission: Technical Volume II (PDF) Factor 2: Work Statement Submissions 41 Pages”
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.25 — “Phase 2 Submission: Cost Volume (Excel) Factor 3: Fee Structure with Cost Narrative N/A”
Additional docs required
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.26 — “Offerors are limited to two (2) pages and no more than three project references. The Offeror must use the Reference POC template provided in Section J as an attachment to this solicitation.”
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.30 — “Offerors must use the Fee Structure Template provided in Section J as an attachment to this solicitation.”
Compliance acts
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.13 — “Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act”
ATTACHMENT+J.1+Requirements+Document+%28PWS%29.pdf· p.4 — “the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 may impose new requirements on the operator of the usTLD”

How to respond

Submission method cite
Email to Jacqueline Brown (jbrown4@doc.gov) and Blen Gabriel (BGabriel@doc.gov)
Format cite
PDF (Phase 1); Excel (Phase 2 cost volume). Text single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman, 1-inch margins, machine readable
Total page limit cite
15 pages
Volumes cite
  • Technical Volume I - Factor 1: Demonstrated Experience & Approach — 15 pages
    13 pages narrative response to Factor 1 questions plus 2 pages for up to 3 project references using Reference POC Template
  • Technical Volume II - Factor 2: Work Statement Submissions — 41 pages
    Detailed responses to 14 Work Statement Submission sections from Requirements Document, addressing Baseline Performance Objectives
  • Cost Volume - Factor 3: Fee Structure with Cost Narrative
    Fee Structure Template (Excel) detailing proposed fees for domain registration, additional services, and cost narrative justifying fees as fair, reasonable, and in public interest
Additional documents required at submissioncite
  • Reference POC Template (for Phase 1 project references)
  • Fee Structure Template (for Phase 2)
ContactsCSV
Show 8 citations (5 fields backed by source quotes)
Submission method
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.24 — “Proposals shall be submitted via email to Jacqueline Brown, jbrown4@doc.gov and BGabriel@doc.gov”
Submission format
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.23 — “Text shall be single-spaced with a minimum of one-inch margins on all sides. All written submissions shall be 12-point font, Times New Roman.”
Total page limit
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.25 — “Phase 1 Submission: Technical Volume I (PDF) Factor 1: Demonstrated Experience & Approach 15 Pages”
Volumes
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.25 — “Table 3: Proposal Instructions Phase 1 Submission: Technical Volume I (PDF) Factor 1: Demonstrated Experience & Approach 15 Pages”
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.25 — “Phase 2 Submission: Technical Volume II (PDF) Factor 2: Work Statement Submissions 41 Pages”
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.25 — “Phase 2 Submission: Cost Volume (Excel) Factor 3: Fee Structure with Cost Narrative N/A”
Additional docs required
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.26 — “Offerors are limited to two (2) pages and no more than three project references. The Offeror must use the Reference POC template provided in Section J as an attachment to this solicitation.”
1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf· p.30 — “Offerors must use the Fee Structure Template provided in Section J as an attachment to this solicitation.”

Documents (5)

Direct downloads from SAM.gov — solicitation, attachments, Q&A, drawings, etc.

FAR / DFARS clauses referenced (14)

Showing the first few — most opportunities cite dozens. Click 'Show all' below to expand.

  • FAR
    52.212-1 — Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services
    Standard instructions for proposals on commercial item buys: format, deadlines, late-bid handling, multiple awards. The default solicitation provision for commercial items.
    Cited in 2× in 1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf
    • 1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf p.1 — “…ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED 27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA 27b. CO…”
    • 1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf p.17 — “…ON CONTRACTING WITH INVERTED DOMESTIC CORPORATIONS (DEVIATION DATE) 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS --- COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERV…”
  • FAR
    52.212-4 — Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial Services
    Boilerplate T&C for commercial item contracts: inspection, payment, dispute resolution, termination for cause/convenience. Replaces most other clauses for commercial buys.
    Cited in 1× in 1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf
    • 1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf p.1 — “…OT ATTACHED 27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA 27b. CONTRACT/PUR…”
  • FAR
    52.212-3 — Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services
    Bundles all reps & certs an offeror must complete for commercial item buys: small-biz status, set-aside qualification, taxpayer ID, place of manufacture, child labor, etc.
    Cited in 2× in 1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf
    • 1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf p.1 — “…. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA 27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INC…”
    • 1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf p.16 — “…clude 52.222-25, Affirmative Action Compliance, and paragraph (d) of 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and C…”
  • FAR
    52.212-5 — Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Products and Commercial Services
    Master clause that flows down all the statutorily-required clauses (small biz, labor, Buy American, etc.) into commercial item contracts. CO checks the boxes that apply.
    Cited in 1× in 1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf
    • 1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf p.1 — “…N INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA 27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY…”
  • FAR
    52.203-16 — View official text on acquisition.gov ↗
    Cited in 3× across 2 files
    • 1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf p.8 — “…lly at this address: Revolutionary FAR Overhaul | Acquisition.GOV 52.203-16 PREVENTING PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST (JUN 2020) 52.242‐15 STOP‐…”
    • 1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf p.17 — “…RTAIN INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS OR STATEMENTS (JAN 2017) 52.203-16 PREVENTING PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST 52.203‐17 CONTRACTOR EMPLO…”
    • ATTACHMENT+J.1+Requirements+Document+%28PWS%29.pdf p.19 — “…rcised is for 84 Months (7 Years) from date of award. 7 See FAR 52.203-16 Preventing Personal Conflicts of Interest; CAR 1352.209-70 Potential…”

Market context — recent awards in this category

Matched on NAICS 561110 + Department of Commerce (broad), last 24 months. These are not previous winners of this exact RFP — they're a market sample of who wins similar work, used to gauge typical award size and incumbent concentration.

count
48
P25
$178K
median
$358K
P75
$1.3M
max
$16.1M
$9Klog scale$16.1M
Top recipients (concentration signal)
top 3 = 78% of $
$63.6M total across 5 recipients
  • AKIMA GLOBAL SERVICES, LLC22 awards$29.3M41%
  • FIVE RIVERS ANALYTICS, LLC12 awards$22.6M32%
  • IMPYRIAN LLC1 award$4.4M6%
  • SALMON GROUP INC3 awards$3.9M5%
  • RIVA SOLUTIONS INC1 award$3.4M5%
Sample awards (largest first)
  • FIVE RIVERS ANALYTICS, LLC
    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
    $16.1M
  • AKIMA GLOBAL SERVICES, LLC
    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
    $15.6M
  • IMPYRIAN LLC
    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
    $4.4M
  • AKIMA GLOBAL SERVICES, LLC
    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
    $3.9M
  • RIVA SOLUTIONS INC
    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
    $3.4M
  • SALMON GROUP INC
    Office of the Secretary
    $3.2M
  • AKYTECH CONSULTING, LLC
    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
    $2.8M
  • DOBBS DEFENSE SOLUTIONS LLC
    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
    $2.7M
✓ Top 6 incumbents cleared SAM Exclusions + OFAC SDN (as of 2026-06-17)
✓ Clean — no active exclusions or sanctions

We screened 6 likely incumbents against both feeds and found no active federal debarments or OFAC sanctions. This is the same primary screen contracting officers run before recommending an award.

  • NEUSTAR, INC.
    Resolved incumbent on prior contract 1331L519C13350044 · UEI FM7FC9TNJ8K3
    IncumbentClean
  • AKIMA GLOBAL SERVICES, LLC
    Likely incumbent (top recipient on similar awards)
    Clean
  • FIVE RIVERS ANALYTICS, LLC
    Likely incumbent (top recipient on similar awards)
    Clean
  • IMPYRIAN LLC
    Likely incumbent (top recipient on similar awards)
    Clean
  • SALMON GROUP INC
    Likely incumbent (top recipient on similar awards)
    Clean
  • RIVA SOLUTIONS INC
    Likely incumbent (top recipient on similar awards)
    Clean
How to read this section
  • SAM Exclusions — federal debarment / suspension list maintained by GSA. A hit means the vendor is currently barred from most federal awards (FAR Subpart 9.4). Last refreshed 2026-06-17.
  • OFAC SDN — Treasury sanctions list. A hit means transacting with the vendor would itself violate US sanctions law (31 CFR 501). Last refreshed 2026-06-17.
  • We screen the top 5 recipients from the market-context section. We don’t yet have UEIs on those recipients, so matches are by normalized legal name — high confidence but not perfect. Always confirm vendor identity in SAM.gov before acting.

Recompete signal

When a federal opportunity follows on from an existing contract, the incumbent has a real advantage — they typically win recompetes around 60% of the time. Every signal below carries the evidence we used so you can verify the match yourself.

Likely recompete
Explicit
NEUSTAR, INC.
PIID 1331L519C13350044UEI FM7FC9TNJ8K3
Likely incumbent
value
$0
agency
Office of the Secretary
Verify on USAspending ↗
Why we think so
  • Solicitation cites PIID 1331L519C13350044 as a predecessor contract
    “Registry Services LLC 21575 Ridgetop Circle Sterling, VA 20166 Contract No. 1331L519C13350044”
    — 1449+.usTLD+Solicitation.pdf p.23
The solicitation explicitly cites a predecessor contract. Incumbents win recompetes about 60% of the time. To unseat: pull the prior vendor's CPARS, check FPDS for their pricing, and look for documented performance gaps in the agency's prior reporting.
How to read this — every signal above carries the evidence we used. Click the USAspending link to verify the prior award; the SAM.gov link (above) shows the current solicitation. We surface this so you can sanity-check the verdict yourself.

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