HI Lars, Thanks for the explanation, but I’m afraid that just won’t do. If the RSP evaluation window is to shut down on the last day that an application can be submitted, ICANN is unnaturally closing off the ability for new competitors to enter the RSP space/industry. I hope you all can find another way to provide certainty that ICANN have applied the same evaluation criteria to all RSP applicants. Elaine From: Lars Hoffmann via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org> Reply-To: Lars Hoffmann <lars.hoffmann@icann.org> Date: Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 3:49 PM To: Cheryl Langdon-Orr via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org> Subject: [EXTERNAL] [SubPro-IRT] RSP Selection Caution: This email originated from outside the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear IRT members, Following today’s (12 Feb 13 UTC) discussion, please, find attached the redline language and the clean language for RSP selection. In addition, there was a question from Elaine about the opening and closing of the RSP application window. Here is our explanation: ICANN org has developed internal evaluation guides for performing the RSP evaluation based on the criteria in the RSP handbook. The evaluation works by having a person with multiple years of industry experience doing the evaluation and another with similar skills doing quality assurance. Once all the evaluations are performed, the team will have multiple alignment sessions to confirm that the same criteria have been applied uniformly. This process provides certainty that we have applied the same evaluation criteria. If we don't close the application window, it's not possible to follow this process, as new entities could be joining at any time. Once the pre-evaluation period ends, we will publish the list of evaluated RSPs for the first time to provide the gTLD applicants an opportunity to start establishing business relationships with the RSPs. The RSP program was developed specifically for the NxR. Therefore, the second application window closes simultaneously with the gTLD application window. I hope this information is helpful. Please note, the clean document will post for public comment on Friday with the remainder of the materials. Best. Lars Redline: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13PCoLz3vBNB5dmuiACoIF6dI5Q9SMune-Ij5qIGh... Clean: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RHHRPGMs0XRStOpnoOgY_4PL_gn8MncSAXLRC3C2... PDF attached