Research Data Management: Funder-specific DMPs

Since 2011, the NSF has required data management plans in every new research proposal. These are generally no more than two pages. According to the NSF’s Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide, the DMP may include:

1. "The types of data, samples, physical collections, software, curriculum materials, and other materials to be produced in the course of the project;
2. 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);
3. Policies for access and sharing including provisions for appropriate protection of privacy, confidentiality, security, intellectual property, or other rights or requirements;
4. Policies and provisions for re-use, re-distribution, and the production of derivatives; and
5. Plans for archiving data, samples, and other research products, and for preservation of access to them.” (Section C2J, Chapter II).

Some NSF directorates or departments may have additional or more specific data management requirements. DMPTool has templates for DMPs specific to 14 NSF directorates.

The NIH has had a Data Sharing Plan since 2003, which mandates DMPs for investigators requesting over $500,000.

The NIH maintains: “Data should be made as widely and freely available as possible while safeguarding the privacy of participants, and protecting confidential and proprietary data.”

Templates for NIH DMPs are available on DMPTool as well.

IMLS requires grant proposals to have a DMP. All sections and questions required by IMLS can be found on DMPTool in 3 IMLS templates.

In addition, according to General Terms and Conditions for IMLS Discretionary Grant and Cooperative Agreement Awards:

“If you collect and analyze data as part of an IMLS funded project, IMLS expects you to deposit data resulting from IMLS-funded research in a broadly accessible repository that allows the public to use the data without charge no later than the date upon which you submit your final report to IMLS. You should deposit the data in a machine-readable, non-proprietary digital format to maximize search, retrieval, and analysis.” (p. 15).

Your project budget may include costs for preparing data for sharing.