Guide to Data Management

As of January 18, 2011, all researchers submitting proposals for National Science Foundation grants are required to submit data management plans (no more than 2 pages) with their proposals.

The NSF Data Management Plan (DMP) requirements specify the following:​

• Include a supplementary document of no more than 2 pages labeled "Data Management Plan" (exceptions are allowed for proposers who need more than 2 pages to document their DMP - in this case, use the 15-page Project Description for additional information related to the DMP).
• The DMP should describe how the proposal will conform to NSF's policy on the dissemination and sharing of research results.
• When specific NSF Directorates have explicit guidelines on preparing DMPs, those guidelines should be followed. Otherwise, the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (Chapter II. C. 2. j) should be followed.
• Costs associated with data management are allowable and should be included in the budget with budget justification submitted to the NSF.
• See Elements of a Data Management Plan for suggestions and tips.

Alternatively, a data management plan may consist of a statement that no plan is needed for the project, but the applicant must justify clearly why no plan will be forthcoming.

Consult NSF's Dissemination and Sharing of Research Results  and FAQ for more guidance.

Several directorates and divisions with NSF offer more specific guidelines:

• Engineering Directorate
  • Directorate-wide guidance 
• Geological Sciences Directorate
  • Division of Earth Sciences 
  • Integrated Ocean Drilling Program 
  • Division of Ocean Sciences 
• Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate
  • Directorate-wide guidance
  • Division of Astronomical Sciences 
  • Division of Chemistry 
  • Division of Materials Research 
• Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate
  • Directorate-wide guidance

Credit for this information: Penn State University Libraries