The NSFNET, a nationwide computer network sponsored by the National Science Foundation for use by the academic research and education community, has used the Defense Data Network (DDN) system for assigning and registering electronic addresses for authorized host computers. These unique addresses were assigned by SRI International, Inc. as part of long term contract that DCA had with SRI and through an Interagency Agreement the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA) had with NSF. The National Science Foundation's mounting responsibility to provide the communications infrastructure, including information services for the scientific community and for the pending High Performance Computing and Communications initiative (HPCC), has made it necessary for NSF to assume responsibilty for provision of its own registration services for the user community. As a result of a recompetition for services, GSI has replaced SRI as the contractor to DCA for provision of registration services and network and host machine address assignment. Accordingly, the DCA agrees to provide address registration services for the NSF community of users on an interim basis while the NSF implements its own soliciation for long term registration and information services. This will insure continuity of this critical operation for the entire Internet community.
