Critical Components Series: Data Management Plan

A critical component of a successful NSF proposal is the Data Management Plan.  This document specifically outlines how the PI plans to manage the resulting data and share the products of research.

Why Is This Document Critical?
"In 1999, the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 was amended to require Federal awarding agencies to ensure that all data produced under an award will be made available to the public through the procedures established under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and interest in ensuring the products of federally funded research has only grown since then."
Consequently, the NSF is one of many federal funding agencies that requires a Data Management Plan to be included in the grant proposal.  Information regarding the NSF's policy on the dissemination and sharing of research results can be found here (see AAG Chapter VI.D.4).  Please note that Fastlane WILL NOT allow the submission of a proposal that is missing a Data Management Plan.

Where Do I Upload This Document?
The Data Management Plan should be loaded in Fastlane under "Supplementary Documents", where there is a specific place to upload it.

What Tools and Resources are Available to Help Me Create This Document?
The Georgia Tech Library offers great and comprehensive information about how to develop a solid Data Management Plan, as below:

Suggested data management plan components:

1. Description of data to be produced or collected, including data standards or formats 
2. Identification of protocols or workflows to help manage data throughout the project
3. Description of documentation and metadata standards to describe the data
4. Plan for short-term data storage & backup, including necessary security measures 
5. Plan for sharing data, including legal and ethical issues, intellectual property issues, or access policies and provisions
6. Plan for data preservation, archiving, and long-term access
7. Plan for allocating responsibility for data management within your research project

What about Collaborative Submissions?
"Simultaneously submitted collaborative proposals and proposals that include subawards are a single unified project and should include only one supplemental combined Data Management Plan, regardless of the number of non-lead collaborative proposals or subawards included. FastLane will not permit submission of a proposal that is missing a Data Management Plan."

 What Else Does the NSF Say about This Document?
A valid Data Management Plan may include only the statement that no detailed plan is needed, as long as the statement is accompanied by a clear justification. Proposers who feel that the plan cannot fit within the limit of two pages may use part of the 15-page Project Description for additional data management information. Proposers are advised that the Data Management Plan must not be used to circumvent the 15-page Project Description limitation. The Data Management Plan will be reviewed as an integral part of the proposal, considered under Intellectual Merit or Broader Impacts or both, as appropriate for the scientific community of relevance.