Data Management Plans

Sponsored Programs

Research involving human subjects data that are stored electronically are subject to the UNC Data Security Plan for Human Subject Research.. For general information regarding human subject research, go to the IRB webpage.

The National Science Foundation’s Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) instructs applicants to include a two-page supplementary document describing how the proposed project will conform to NSF’s Policy on Dissemination and Sharing of Research Results. This requirement was added in a 2010 revision of the GPC, and applied to proposals submitted after January 17, 2011. Prior to that, grantees were expected to comply with the long-standing data policy, but there was no specific guidance for addressing data management and sharing in grant proposals.

The Data Management Plan (DMP) is now an integral part of an NSF proposal and is reviewed under the intellectual merit or broader impact criterion, or both, as is most appropriate. The Grant Proposal Guide provides general guidance, suggesting that plans address:

  • The types of data, samples, physical collections, software, curriculum materials, and other materials to be produced on the course of the project;
  • The standards to be used for data and metadata format and content (where existing standards are absent or deemed inadequate, this should be documented along with any proposed solutions or remedies);
  • Policies for access and sharing including provisions for appropriate protection of privacy, confidentiality, security, intellectual property, or other rights or requirements;
  • Policies and provision for re-use, re-distribution, and the production of derivatives;
  • Plans for archiving data, samples and other research products, and for preservation of access to them

To address varying descriptions of data, its standards and its management and use among different scientific communities, NSF directorates and some divisions have released detailed, relevant guidance. Additionally, some program solicitations (RFPs) may contain their own specific requirements.

Determining which guidelines should be used when developing a Data Management Plan:

1. Review the application guidelines (the NSF Solicitation) for your proposal under the “Proposal Preparation Instructions” section.

If specific guidance for DMPs is included, follow them.

2. If the application guidelines do not include DMP requirements, review the guidelines or the directorate or division to which your proposal is going to be submitted.

If your proposal will be submitted through one of the listed directorates/division, follow its guidance. (see below).

3. If you are submitting to an NSF unit or office that has not published specific DMP requirements, refer to the Grant Proposal Guide.

Follow GPG’s General Data Management Plan guidance. (see below).

If you are unsure what to include in your plan, you may want to contact a program officer to discuss the requirements.

NSF Guidelines

GPG General Guidance

Directorate and Division Level Guidance

Templates – DMP Tool

To help researchers generate Data Management Plans that meet NSF’s requirements, several institutions have collaborated to create and make available online, a set of templates. Users must register and log in to use DMPTool. Be selection an NSF directorate/division, a user is presented with a targeted series of questions to consider for each section of the plan. Plans can be started, saved, edited, and deleted in DMPTool. Once it is complete, it can be exported as plain or rich text.

The DMPTool currently includes templates for NSF, NIH, the institute of Museum and Library Sciences, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The developers plan to add more as they become available. Like NSF, other Federal agencies have policies covering the management and sharing of scientific data generated under federally funded awards.

Data Management at UNC

Researchers developing Data Management Plans are encouraged to work with UNC Libraries to develop plans for long-term data storage. For information about managing data and writing data management plans, see the Library’s Research Data Management site. For information and assistance, contact Jane Monson, Digital Initiatives Librarian, at (970) 351-3878

Examples of Data Management Plans

From DMPTool

Other Agency Data Sharing Policies & Guidelines

Additional Resources

Framework for Creating a Data Management Plan Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)

How to develop a data management and sharing plan Sarah Jones, Digital Curation Centre (UK)

DMP Self-Assessment Tool Purdue University Libraries

Data Management MIT Libraries