LOS ANGELES - The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) issued a request for information (RFI) seeking input from providers on their ability to perform evaluations of String Similarity, Variant Justification, or both, as part of the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program: Next Round, which is expected to launch in April 2026. Providers will assemble a panel of experts to perform these evaluations, a press release stated by ICANN. 

The purpose of this RFI is to gather insights from prospective providers regarding their methodologies, expertise, and perspective on the potential challenges that may arise while conducting evaluations of String Similarity, Variant Justification, or both, under ICANN's policies and guidelines.

This RFI addresses two distinct evaluation areas within the next round of the New gTLD Program: (1) String Similarity, and (2) Variant Justification. Both areas are critical to ensuring the trust, security, and usability of the Domain Name System. String Similarity evaluation will take place during the String Evaluation phase of the program and focus on determining visual confusion for the applied-for gTLDs.

Variant Justification is the evaluation of an applicant's stated need for the applied-for variant gTLDs, based on established criteria, and will take place during the Application and Applicant Evaluation phase of the New gTLD Program. String evaluations are expected to occur shortly after applications are published, while applications and applicant evaluations will occur after string evaluation results are published and any string contentions and objections are resolved.

Providers are not required to offer both services to respond to the RFI. Responses will be considered based on the respondent's interest and ability to perform reviews as part of:

• A panel for the evaluations of String Similarity only.
• A panel for the evaluations of Variant Justification only.
• Panels for the evaluations of both String Similarity and Variant Justification.

Combining these evaluation areas into a single RFI allows ICANN to better coordinate evaluation timelines and planning for vendors. This is a public RFI, meaning that any prospective vendor may participate. For a complete overview of this RFI, including the timeline, please consult the overview document.

Indications of interest should be emailed to string-similarity-and-variant-justification-rfi@icann.org with the following information:

• Name of organization.
• Name of primary contact.
• Email address of primary contact.

Official responses to this RFI should be electronically submitted using ICANN's sourcing tool by 23:59 UTC on August 11, 2025. Access to this tool may be requested via the same email address.