Proposal submissions to National Science Foundation must include a Data Management Plan as of Jan. 18, 2011. This document, designed to facilitate dissemination and sharing of research results, is a supplementary document describing how the proposal will conform to NSF policy on the dissemination and sharing of research results. It is required in addition to other proposal documents and is not part of the 15-page Project Description.
Per NSF policy, investigators are expected to share with other researchers the primary data, samples, physical collections and other supporting materials created or gathered in the course of work under NSF grants. Grantees are expected to encourage and facilitate such sharing. The Data Management Plan will explain plans for dissemination, in a two-page supplementary document. Elements may include:
- The types of data, samples, physical collections, software, curriculum materials and other materials to be produced over 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 provisions for re-use, re-distribution, and the production of derivatives; and
- Plans for archiving data, samples and other research products, and for preservation of access to them.
illustration: Dan LaSota
Some solicitations may involve data management requirements and plans specific to the Directorate, Office, Division, Program or other NSF unit. Information is available at http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp.
Simultaneously submitted collaborative proposals and proposals containing subawards should include only one Data Management Plan. For all proposals, a valid plan may include only the statement that no detailed plan is needed as long as the statement is accompanied by a clear justification. The two-page plan should not be used as to circumvent the 15-page Project Description limitation. However, proposers who feel the plan cannot fit within the 2-page limit may use part of the 15-page Project Description for additional data management information.
The Data Management Plan will be reviewed as an integral part of the proposal, coming under Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts or both. Further information regarding these requirements is available in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide, available online at http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf11001/gpg_2.jsp#dmp.
