050.01 NSF to Establish New Network Information Services by Mike Roberts, The National Science Foundation has released a solicitation for network information services for NSFNET and the NREN. The five year project will take the form of a cooperative agreement between the NSF and the selected management organization. NSF has indicated that it may divide the project work and make more than one award. Awards of this type fall under the U.S. Federal Cooperative Agreement Act, which is intended to encourage joint ventures between the government and public and private sector organizations on projects of common interest, with all parties contributing resources to the scope of work. NSF has announced that approximately U.S.$2 million are available from its network funds for the project. The new NIS will consolidate and replace several existing network services efforts in the U.S., including those provided by Bolt Beranek and Newman, Merit, and SRI/GSI. Based on an assessment of NIS needs and requirements developed during a workshop held in mid-1991, the solicitation gives priority to delivery of the services summarized below. The major conclusion of the workshop was that a distributed model should be adopted, with end users receiving support from their local services units to the greatest extent possible. The central network services organization therefore will function as a "NIS for NIS's." - Registration Services. The new NIS provider will be responsible for Internet network number assignment, domain name registration, and autonomous system number assignment. The U.S. Department of Defense requirements will be handled within the DOD. - Directory and Database Services. A master "Directory of Directories" is to be maintained, covering network resources, network organizations, institutions and end user names. The solicitation asks that "proposed directory implementations should utilize distributed database and other advanced technologies wherever practicable." - Information Services. Major services to be provided include a Network Reference Desk and Coordination Services for all NIS and NOC organizations on NSFNET and the NREN. It is intended that the new provider function as a "NIS of first resort" and a "NIS of last resort" for end users. By this is meant that the central NIS organization will offer information services that assist an end user in finding a source of local support and connection, as well as dealing with situations in which a user, for one reason or another, has been unable to resolve a problem locally. Proposals are due May 18 and an award is anticipated in the summer of 1992.