Sorry, I don't quite get the first point (not very familiar with OR backend).

What we need is for AC/SAC to be able to override the conference-wide deadline for the author response for specific papers. This is for the cases when reviewers came so late, that the authors are severely disadvantaged and need to be given more time to respond. I would guess that the ACs/SACs would typically do this BEFORE the rebuttal ends for everybody, and their specified deadline for author response would need to take priority over the generic one.

@annargrs I've been drafting a possible implementation and I'll attach some screenshots below. For now, a link would go to this shared forum between the PCs/assigned SACs/assigned ACs where each of these roles can add or remove the authors from commenting on the submission by submitting a small form.

One question: if the EiCs decide to close or re-open commenting to authors on the venue request form using "Comment Stage", should this override the changes made manually by the SAC/AC, or should these changes always be preserved?

@haroldrubio apologies, I missed this issue somehow. Yes, this would solve our problem. Would it be possible to have this integrated for December cycle?