Data Management Service Plans

Under the final NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing (DMS Policy), NIH requires the submission of a Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP) with funding applications that generate scientific data, outlining the plan for managing, preserving, and sharing project data. Moreover, recipients of awarded applications must comply with the DMS Plan as approved by the funding NIH Institute, Center, or Office (ICO) as a term and condition of the award.

DMSP Resources

Please find the following resources to assist with your DMSP needs:

• DMSP Researcher Guide
• NIH Guide to Writing a DMSP
• DMS Tool – Build your Data Management Plan
• NIH Definitions of Data to Share vs. Data NOT to Share
• Budgeting for Data Management and Sharing
• Quantitative Sciences Data Services Core
  • For additional assistance with DMSP preparations, please complete a Quantitative Science Service Request.

DMSP Revisions

If DMSP revisions are necessary (e.g., new scientific direction, a different data repository, a timeline revision), the DMSP must be updated by recipients and reviewed and approved by the NIH ICO.

All requests for NIH awarding ICO prior approval must be submitted by the Authorized Organization Representative (Signing Official [SO] role in eRA Commons) at least 30 days in advance of the requested change, and the currently approved DMS Plan remains in effect for the award until the request is approved by the funding NIH ICO.

Requests and revised DMS Plans depend on where you are in the grant award cycle:

• Pre-Award: Just-in-Time

  • Before the award is made, applicants must use the “Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP) Revision” section of the Just in Time (JIT) Screen in eRA Commons, to submit a revised DMS Plan.

• Post-Award: At Time of RPPR

  • For changes being requested after the award is made, at the time of the RPPR (i.e., within 30 days of RPPR submission), in the RPPR Module, recipients must use Section C.5.c to select “Upload Revised Data Management and Sharing Plan” and follow the instructions provided to complete the required entry. Refer to the RPPR Instruction Guide.

• Post Award: Off-Cycle Requests

  • When revisions to the DMS Plans need to be requested off-cycle (other than at the time of the RPPR), recipients must Select “Prior Approval – DMS Request” in the Prior Approval Module to request the change. 

For more on DMSP revisions: NOT-OD-24-176