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Matt Buckland
Registry Services Corporation
425 West Randolph Street, 8th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-238-0125, ext. 250
Email:
Applicants should submit one (1) electronic copy of their response to Matt Buckland via email at , and one (1) hard copy of their response including the application fee to:
Registry Services Corporation
Attention: RFP
425 West Randolph Street, 8th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606
On April 8th, 2009, RegistryPro submitted a Registry Services request to ICANN proposing the release of currently reserved one- two- and three-character second-level .PRO domain names. The formal request may be found on the ICANN website at:
http://www.icann.org/en/registries/rsep/registry-pro-08apr09-en.pdf
On June 26th, 2009, the ICANN Board of Directors approved our request, thus giving RegistryPro authorization to move forward with our plan to release one- two- and three-character .PRO domains to the marketplace. The ICANN Board meeting notes can be found at:
http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-26jun09.htm#1.6
The goal of this program is to increase the use, branding, and awareness of the .PRO TLD. We look forward to the opportunity to work with all interested parties to identify creative and effective uses of these domains to the benefit of the .PRO brand and all .PRO registrants. RegistryPro will immediately begin accepting proposals on February 10th, 2010 from parties interested in participating in our Request for Proposal (“RFP”). The deadline for delivery of one-character RFP responses is March 31st, 2010. The submission window for all two- and three-character .PRO domains will close on April 30th, 2010.
For each eligible group of one- two- and three-character .PRO domains, the program will have three main components:
1. An RFP phase to invite interested potential registrants to propose specific plans for use and promotion;
2. An auction phase that offers domains not allocated during the RFP round; and
3. A first-come, first-served (FCFS) release of any domains not allocated during the RFP or auction rounds.
RegistryPro will consider each submitted RFP on its own merit on a rolling basis and may accept any proposal before the end of the RFP period.
Through the RFP round, we will identify candidates with the most beneficial and meaningful combination of quality, innovation, brand recognition, financial commitment to the domain name, and ability to deliver in a timely manner. Once an RFP response is selected, the domain will initially be registered through a temporary RegistryPro holding account pending transfer to a registrar (accredited and in good standing) of the successful applicant’s choosing. Any applicant selected during the RFP phase will be required to enter into a separate marketing agreement with RegistryPro and will be prohibited from transferring ownership of the domain during the term of the agreement. RegistryPro will begin its review of RFP responses upon receipt.
RegistryPro has issued this RFP inviting potential .PRO registrants to submit proposals explaining how they would use and promote a particular one- two- or three-character .PRO domain name. Each proposal will require an application fee of 250.00 USD. RegistryPro will refund 50% of the application fee for any RFP not selected.
Payment must be submitted by check made out to Registry Services Corporation and mailed with a hard copy of the proposal to:
RegistryPro
425 West Randolph, 8th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606
Attn: Registry Team/.PRO RFP
The list of one- two- and three-character reserved names that will be made available under this program and timing can be found at: http://www.registry.pro/123. Interested parties should review the list of names to be included in this program carefully to avoid confusion.
Evaluation criteria will take into account the applicant’s business, technical, and financial capabilities, marketing expertise, business plan and the manner and purposes for which the proposed domain would be utilized. The successful applicant will:
1. Commit to using the one- two- or three-character.PRO domain as their primary web address, or for a specific long-term marketing campaign;
2. Demonstrate a financial commitment to promoting their web address resulting in increased awareness of the .PRO TLD;
3. Meet or exceed commitments made by competing applicants.
4. Meet minimum standards of decency and morality and be deemed by RegistryPro to be a positive representative of the .PRO TLD.
5. Deliver on commitment to use and promote the domain within 180 days of selection.
The length of the RFP responses should not exceed 15 pages and should include a statement that he or she has read the RFP guidelines posted at http://www.registry.pro/123 and agrees to be bound by the terms, conditions, and policies contained therein.
6. Meet the eligibility and other requirements of .PRO’s End User Terms of Use Agreement, posted at http://registry.pro/legal/user-terms.shtml
Upon selection of a successful proposal, the domain will initially be registered through a temporary RegistryPro holding account pending transfer to a registrar (accredited and in good standing) of the new registrant’s own choosing. At that time, the ongoing annual registration fee will be the standard retail price charged by that registrar. The winning applicant will be bound to the .PRO registration agreement of their registrar of choice.
Once transferred to the registrar of choice, the domain will be locked down at the registry level so that no transfer between registrants can be made without the express written permission of RegistryPro. Transfers of domain names between Registrants shall only be allowed in the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Registrant or in connection with any other merger or acquisition; provided that both the old and new Registrants execute an appropriate assignment and assumption agreement with RegistryPro (or any successor .PRO registry operator) to continue the programs described in your proposal and to continue to be bound by any written agreement by and between you and RegistryPro.
RegistryPro is ultimately responsible for the development of evaluation criteria to rank RFP responses. RegistryPro reserves the right to modify the list of criteria at any time during the RFP process until the final selection is made, without prior warning to applicants. Key evaluation criteria are as follows:
Commitment of applicant to meet required deadlines
Competitive financial investment
History of successful marketing efforts
Compelling brand recognition
Therefore, each applicant should address the following questions:
1. How will applicant utilize the domain name/website?
2. How will applicant promote awareness of the domain name/website?
3. What financial resources will be dedicated to promotion of domain name/website?
4. What is the proposed timeline for implementation?
5. How will consumers and businesses benefit from the allocation of the domain name to the applicant?
Special consideration will be given to a novel approach with a potential to significantly raise the awareness and interest of .PRO domains.
RegistryPro reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to take exception to these RFP specifications, or to waive any formalities, at our sole discretion. RegistryPro also reserves the right to terminate negotiations and reject an application if contract terms are not agreed to by the applicant. RegistryPro specifically reserves the right to negotiate a contract with the selected applicant. The final contract will contain written responses to the RFP as well as verbal and/or demonstrated responses. The applicant should indicate acceptance of this condition in writing at the time the response to this RFP is submitted.
RegistryPro will not pay costs incurred in the quote preparation, job-walk or contract negotiation process. All costs shall be borne by the proposing applicant.
Applicant warrants that applicant is duly authorized to disclose any and all data contained in the documentation included with the response, and that such disclosure to RegistryPro does not violate any other obligation to which Applicant is bound. All sales, supporting materials, and other documentation submitted with the response will be retained by RegistryPro, unless otherwise requested by the applicant at the time of submission.
Applicants should state in writing that all furnished information, including prices, will remain valid and applicable for 180 days from the date received by RegistryPro.
Applicants shall make no references to RegistryPro in any literature, promotional material, brochures, or sales presentations without the express written consent of RegistryPro.
Consider this RFP and all materials submitted by RegistryPro as confidential. When submitting confidential material to RegistryPro, the applicant must clearly mark it as such. RegistryPro expressly disclaims any and all liability for any consequential, indirect, special, incidental, reliance, exemplary, or punitive damages arising out of or relating to the applicant’s submission of a response including any and all documentation to RegistryPro pursuant to this RFP. RegistryPro desires that this RFP not be forwarded to any third party for evaluation or for any other purpose without the prior express written consent of RegistryPro.
All questions are to be submitted in writing. Questions about the quote will be received at any time and RegistryPro will endeavor to respond to all questions in a timely manner. Send all questions via email to Matt Buckland at . In general, RegistryPro intends to share questions and answers with all applicants, except where technical discussions of a proprietary nature would preclude such sharing. RegistryPro reserves the right to request additional relevant information from applicants to assist in the evaluation of the application.
At the conclusion of negotiations, if held, a best and final offer may be requested of all bidders with quotes that, in the sole judgment of RegistryPro, are worthy of final consideration. All representations by bidders must be reduced to writing and included in their final quote to be considered.
This RFP is merely an invitation for applications/bids, and nothing contained in this RFP should be taken as an offer or in any way creating a binding contract. This RFP is subject to the execution of a definitive agreement between RegistryPro and the applicants with the prevailing application. By submitting a response, the applicants certifies that (a) he or she has full authority to make this application on behalf of the applicant and to make and fulfill all agreements, representations, waivers, and undertakings stated in this transmittal form and accompanying materials (copies of the documents demonstrating this authority are attached); (b) he or she has read and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the FRP guidelines posted at http://www.registry.pro/123; and (c) all information contained in its response and accompanying documents is true, accurate and complete to the best of the person's and the applicant’s knowledge and information.