A method for managing NSSAI availability information at an NSSF includes receiving and storing NSSAI availability information from NF service consumers. The method further includes maintaining time values usable to determine expiration times for NSSAI availability information database records, where the time values are updated when a corresponding record is updated. The method further includes auditing the records, and, in response to failing to receive a request to update the NSSAI availability information for one of the NSSAI information database records within an expiration time, marking the record as stale. When a trigger is detected for providing NSSAI availability information from one of the database records that is marked as stale, the NSSF refrains from providing the NSSAI availability information to the NF service consumer.