Beginning in January 2023, all National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant and contract applicants will be required to submit a data management and sharing plan (DMSP)—or a data management plan—as part of their application. If awarded, compliance with the approved plan is required.   

Learn about the new policy and helpful resources for researchers.  

Requirements

NIH's new data management and sharing policy requires that all grant applications and renewals that produce scientific data include a robust and detailed plan on the management, sharing, and preservation of data during the funded period and beyond.

To comply with the new policy, investigators are required to provide specific information on access policies/procedures to protect the privacy of human participants, data preservation, metadata standards, and distribution approaches. This information is required in a DMSP.

New policy applies to:

• New and competing renewal grant applications submitted to NIH for the Jan. 25, 2023, proposal deadline date and later;  
• Proposals for contracts submitted to NIH for the Jan. 25, 2023, proposal deadline date and later; and  
• Any other NIH funding agreement executed on or after Jan. 25, 2023.

New policy doesn’t apply to:

• Research and other activities that don’t generate scientific data, e.g., training, infrastructure development, and non-research activities.

Bookmark these resources & tools

• Video modules provide guidance for writing and operationalizing your plan.
• Supplemental documents outline what researchers need to know:
  • Elements of an NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan
  • Allowable Costs for Data Management and Sharing
  • Selecting a Repository for Data Resulting from NIH-Supported Research
• Funder requirements for data management and sharing
• DMPTool (log in with your NetID) is recommended to draft your plan using the NIH 2023 template.
• An example of a successful Data Management Plan (pp. 3-4) created using the DMPTool. NIH will provide additional data management plan samples in the near future.

Important compliance notes

• The submitted DMSP will become a term of condition of the Notice of Award and compliance during the award period will be determined by the awarding NIH Institute or Center.
• Failure to comply may result in NIH enforcement action, risk award termination, or impact future funding decisions. 

Questions?

Contact the University Libraries Data Management team, data-management@arizona.edu, for more information or to request a consultation.