The NSF now requires that all requests for funding contain a data management plan (DMP) addressing how the proposed project will comply with the agency's data sharing policy.
As part of your NSF grant proposal, you must include a DMP of no more than two pages outlining the plan for data management or a justification as to why there is no need for such a plan.
Read the NSF Data Management and Sharing Frequently Asked Questions.
See the NSF guidelines on data management plans.
Data Management Plan Templates
Columbia University Libraries/Information Services subject specialists have developed templates to help you create a data management plan.
DMP TemplatesLinks to Sample Data Management Plans
Below are links to sample data management plans posted by a number of universities.
University of California San Diego
University of New Mexico (see left sidebar)
University of North Carolina – The Odum Institute
Web Resources on Data Management
Data Management and Publishing Guide Extensive site on data management from the MIT Libraries.
Data Management: A Guide to Best Practices for Curating Your Research Data Well-organized Rutgers University Libraries guide on the different stages of the data life cycle.
Ensuring the Integrity, Accessibility, and Stewardship of Research Data in the Digital Age National Academy of Sciences publication on the principles affecting research data in the digital age.
Geospatial Data Preservation Resource Center Resources on preserving geospatial information.
Geospatial Electronic Records Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)'s guide to managing and preserving geospatial data and related electronic records.
Guidelines for Effective Data Management Plans Guide from the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR).
Guide for Research Libraries: The NSF Data Sharing Policy Though this Association of Research Libraries guide is aimed at librarians, it puts the NSF policy in context and includes a list of links to data management planning resources.
