Abbreviations

Q. Could you tell me the correct way to pluralize an acronym when it is the first instance and the definition that appears before the acronym is plural? Here is an example and the two options that have been suggested to me: configuration items (CIs), or configuration items (CI)s. I think the first because it looks better, but others disagree.

A. Yes, the first is the conventional way to make an acronym plural; the second is (forgive me) bizarre.