Research Data Management: Data Management Plan

The NSF's Dissemination and Sharing of Research Results site provides links to guidelines on addressing data management plans. "If guidance specific to the program is not provided, then the requirements established in Grant Proposal Guide, Chapter II.C.2.j apply."

NSF states that, "if a specific program solicitation provides guidance on the preparation of data management plans, such guidance must be followed".

• Engineering Directorate (ENG)
  Directorate-wide Guidance
• Geological Sciences Directorate (GEO)
  Division of Earth Sciences
  Intergrated Ocean Drilling Program
• Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate (SBE)
  Data Archiving Policy for the Division of Social and Economic Sciences (SES)

From Grants.gov application Guide,, Jan 18, 2011 (pdf):

Important note to applicants: Each application must include a supplementary document of no more than two pages labeled "Data Management Plan" in the attachment name. This supplement should describe how the proposal will conform to NSF policy on the dissemination and sharing of research results (see AAG Chapter VI.D.4), and may include:

1. the types of data, samples, physical collections, software, curriculum materials, and other materials to be produced in the course of the project;
2. 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); [UH ScholarSpace uses the Dublin Core metadata scheme]
3. policies for access and sharing including provisions for appropriate protection of privacy, confidentiality, security, intellectual property, or other rights or requirements;
4. policies and provisions for re-use, re-distribution, and the production of derivatives; and
5. plans for archiving data, samples, and other research products, and for preservation of access to them. [UH ScholarSpace founded on DSpace software can archive digital data]

ScholarSpace, https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/, is an institutional repository for UH Manoa research papers, videos, datasets, instructional materials.

ScholarSpace provides long-term preservation of digital files.

ScholarSpace can provide permanent access to data or act as a safe storage space until data are moved to a discipline specific data repository.

DMP Tool helps researchers create data management plans (DMPs) that many funding agencies require as part of the grant proposal submission process. The DMP Tool provides a click-through wizard for creating a DMP that complies with funder requirements. It also has direct links to funder websites, help text for answering questions and data management best practices resources.  It is a free, open-source application initiated in 2011 by the University of California Curation Center (UC3) at the California Digital Library, DataONE, Digital Curation Centre (DCC-UK), Smithsonian Institution, UCLA Library, UC San Diego Library, UIUC Library, and University of Virginia Library and then revamped with the funding from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in 2014.

Sign up/Sign in through UH SSO using your UH email address:

Once signed in, you will see DMPs created by UH researchers on your dashboard.