Updated Information about the Data Management and Sharing Plan from the NSF Directorate of Biological Sciences

The Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP) is a supplementary document required for all proposal submissions to NSF. The DMSP should describe how an award will follow NSF policy on managing, disseminating, and sharing research results and can be no longer than two pages. NSF provides general information on preparing your data management and sharing plan HERE.   

Importantly, PIs submitting proposals to the Directorate of Biological Sciences (BIO) should also consult the BIO-specific guidance on DMSPs for proposals and awards posted HERE that was recently updated in accordance with the newly released PAPPG (NSF 24-1). 

To summarize, the BIO DMSP guidance outlines the following: 

1. DMSPs should be consistent with the FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) Guiding Principles. 
2. DMSPs should describe provisions taken to protect sensitive personal data, such as personal health data and human genomic data. 
3. PIs may consider developing best practices regarding the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance. 
4. DMSPs should outline roles and responsibilities for all key personnel managing data. 
5. DMSPs are expected to include the use of recognized, accessible, and community-accepted repositories (where they exist) for data storage. Personal storage and lab websites for data storage may be considered inadequate. 
6. DMSPs of projects that involve collection of specimens that require deposition or vouchering must include a description how specimens and the associated data will be permanently accessioned. 

Also, note that costs associated with data management and sharing can be included in a proposal’s budget and budget justification if applicable.  

The BIO DMSP guidance also includes: 

1. Information on post-award data management and sharing 
2. Information on future proposals, notably that DMSP implementation on prior awards will be considered during evaluation of subsequent NSF proposal submissions.