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National Science Foundation (NSF) Access Policy: Compliance for Data

Need Help with a DMP?

If you need help with a Data Management Plan (DMP), please visit the DMPTool or contact our Digital Scholarship Librarian, Susan Parham at Susan.Parham@library.gatech.edu

Making data available

The NSF Public Access Policy has data requirements both before and after your grant is approved.

Before: As of January 18, 2011, all proposals to the NSF must include a Data Management Plan (DMP), which should describe how the proposal will conform to the NSF policy on dissemination and sharing of reseach results. 

DMPs may address:

  • The types of data or materials to be produced by the proposed project; 
  • The standards for data and metadata that will be used; 
  • Policies for access and sharing;
  • Policies for re-use, re-distribution, and the production of derivatives; and  
  • Plans for archiving data, samples, and other research products.  

After: All data resulting from research funded by the NSF should be placed in the digital repository named in your DMP. Datasets should be stored in an appropriate repository. What is appropriate will vary by community, and what constitutes reasonable data management and access will be determined by the community of interest, through peer review and program management. NSF expects to "explore a series of options to leverage existing data repositories, extend approaches already in use in the development of DMPs, develop standards for repositories and metadata in consultation with the community, and enhance reporting and evaluation procedures".

Data Repositories

Where will you put your data?

Georgia Tech's institutional repository, SMARTech, may be able to house your research data. Contact our Digital Scholarship Librarian to find out what your options are for archiving your data and making it accessible.

re3data.org also maintains a comprehensive listing of available data repositories.