Research Data

NIH & NSF Data Management and Sharing Plan Policy Updates

Both NIH and NSF have recently updated their data management and sharing plan (DMSP) requirements, reflecting a broader federal push toward open, publicly accessible research data.

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NIH – 2026 DMS Plan Format Update

The underlying 2023 Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy remains in effect — only the format of the plan used to implement it has changed. NIH has introduced a streamlined 2026 Pilot DMS Plan format, which is required for applications with due dates on or after May 25, 2026 (both formats are accepted for earlier due dates).

The new format takes a yes/no checklist approach, asking researchers to confirm whether they will:

• Maximize appropriate sharing of scientific data underlying peer-reviewed publications and other findings
• Share data by the time of publication (or by the end of the performance period for other findings)
• Keep shared data available for at least as long as required by repository or journal policies

If researchers answer “no” to any of these, or anticipate limitations on sharing, they must describe those limitations and the ethical, legal, or technical factors behind them (300 words maximum). Acceptable reasons for limiting sharing include consent restrictions, participant privacy risks, or applicable laws — but reasons such as data being “too small,” not anticipated to be widely used, or lacking a suitable repository are generally not considered justifiable.

The plan is reviewed by NIH program staff, not peer reviewers, and applications selected for funding will only be funded if the DMS Plan is complete and acceptable.

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NSF – PAPPG 24-1 Supplement 2 (Effective January 22, 2026)

NSF’s updated policy applies to all grants and cooperative agreements awarded on or after January 22, 2026. Key changes include:

Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP): Proposals must now include a DMSP created using a new tool on Research.gov (available April 27, 2026), replacing the previous two-page PDF upload. The plan is now reviewed as an integral part of the proposal under Intellectual Merit or Broader Impacts. Recipients are required to share all data supporting NSF-funded publications at the time of publication; exceptions must be described and justified within the DMSP.

Public Access: NSF has removed the 12-month embargo from all publications. Author’s Accepted Manuscripts (AAMs) must now be deposited in NSF’s Public Access Repository (PAR) at or before the time of publication, and deposit of AAMs fulfills public access requirements without requiring payment to publishers.

Data Sharing Language Strengthened: The policy shift is notable — sharing is now framed as a requirement, not just an expectation. Investigators must obtain prior written approval from the cognizant NSF Program Officer to make any adjustment or exception to the DMSP if the change constitutes a change in objectives or scope.

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What This Means for Researchers

Both agencies are moving toward stricter, more structured data sharing obligations. Researchers should plan early for data sharing, select an appropriate repository before submission, and document any anticipated limitations clearly in their plans. Check your specific funding opportunity for any additional directorate- or program-level requirements beyond these baseline policies.

Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) is a global advocacy organization focused on making research and education more open and accessible.

Core Elements of Federal Public Access Policies – SPARC

Various institutes/centers, services/agencies, etc. within the federal agency may have specific requirements. PIs should always refer to the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) and sponsor guidelines or seek from you sponsored research services proposal administrator for policies and requirements.

DMPTool

What is the DMP Tool? The DMP Tool is a free, open-source, application that helps researchers create data management plans (DMPs). These plans are required by many funding agencies 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.

The DMPTool machine-actionable DMPs allow information within a DMP to be fed across stakeholders, linking metadata, repositories, and institutions, and allowing for notifications and verification, reporting in real-time. A key goal of this new system is to reduce the burden on researchers by generating automated updates to a plan and facilitating seamless integration with systems and groups that support research.

ResearchData@TAMU is Texas A&M University’s digital research data catalog, developed in partnership with the Division of Research, University Libraries, and Sponsored Research Services. The catalog highlights completed research from Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University at Galveston, and Texas A&M University Health Science Center, while supporting discoverability, collaboration, and compliance with federal data management, sharing, and retention requirements. Project metadata is publicly searchable and linked to each researcher’s Scholars@TAMU (keep hyperlinked) profile, increasing visibility and impact for potential internal and external collaborators.

TAMU Librarians are engaging PIs with completed federally sponsored projects to:

• Verify and enrich project details (pulled from Maestro)
• Review and revise (if desired) project summaries/abstracts
• Add strategic keywords to improve discoverability
• Link related publications and datasets (when available)
• Document final research data storage location

Completing the Maestro Research Data Management Project Deliverable
This resource is intended to help Principal Investigators complete the Maestro Research Data Management Project Deliverable by clarifying what information is needed and how to document where final research data will be stored long-term.

Why does this matter?
The location and the primary steward of research data in support of sponsored research activities are required to be referenced in the university’s electronic research administration system. This ensures that the location of TAMU (TAMU, TAMUG, TAMHSC) research data is known to the University so it can meet its obligations for retention, data accessibility, and sharing.

How do I complete the deliverable?

For each entry in the Data Storage Location table, complete the required fields:

• Location (required): Where final research data will be stored long-term. Examples: Texas Data Repository, secure lab or departmental server, or an external repository (name the repository).
• Data Sensitivity & Compliance (required): Indicate whether data are:
  • Open Access – publicly available, no restrictions
  • Restricted – limited access due to privacy, confidentiality, or other compliance requirements
• Sponsor Data Sharing Requirement (required):
  • Does the sponsor require you to make the final research data publicly accessible? Yes / No
  • If Yes -Please provide the name and/or location where the data has been or will be made publicly accessible (e.g., repository, journal supplementary materials, project website, etc.).
  • If Yes – If available, please provide the persistent identifier (PID) or stable URL where the data can be accessed (e.g., DOI, accession number, or permanent URL).

Reminders

• Final research data” refers to the data necessary to validate and replicate research findings. This may include data underlying publications, supporting documentation, or any datasets collected, generated, or analyzed over the course of the project.
• Federally sponsored research data must generally be retained for at least 7 years, or longer if required by the sponsor or applicable policy.
• If the responsible research data steward or the storage location changes during the retention period, please notify the Director of Research Data so that institutional records can be updated.
• If a Principal Investigator leaves Texas A&M and wishes to transfer original research data to another institution, the transfer must go through the appropriate TAMU approval and agreement process before data and responsibilities move to the new institution.

Questions – Contact Leslie Krueger, Director of Research Data, at lkrueger@tamu.edu.

Texas A&M University Libraries’ research librarians provide comprehensive support for researchers managing research data. They assist with creating Data Management Plans (DMPs) using the DMPTool, tailored to meet specific funder requirements. Librarians offer guidance on organizing, documenting, storing, and sharing data throughout the research lifecycle, ensuring compliance with funder and publisher mandates. Through consultations, they share best practices for setting up accounts and utilizing the Texas Data Repository (TDR) for publishing and archiving data, enhancing discoverability and citability, and can share information about other repositories as well. Workshops are also available to equip researchers with tools and strategies for effective data management, promoting long-term usability and research impact.

Overview – Research Data Management – Research Guides at Texas A&M University

Book a Consultation with a Research Librarian

• Appointments are available on Zoom in 30 minute time blocks.

• Once you have made an appointment, you’ll receive a Zoom link in an email.

• Appointments must be scheduled 24 hours in advance.

If you have questions about purchasing research data storage, determining the best type of storage for your research data, or for other technical questions please contact your local college/department IT representative first.

The Texas A&M University Technology Services portal empowers researchers with cutting-edge computing infrastructure, security and compliance guidance, device standards, and data handling protocols—helping ensure data integrity and support throughout the research lifecycle.

Research: Compute and networking services for researchers—HPC, file sharing, Science DMZ, enterprise compute platform.

Data Classification: A framework for determining sensitivity levels of data and governing appropriate handling and protection.

Research Security & Compliance: Training, tools, and policy guidance to help conduct research securely and in adherence to standards.

End-User Device Guide: Best practices for securing both university-owned and personal devices, including compliance requirements.

Enterprise Compute Environment (ECE): Texas A&M University’s Technology Services supports researchers through its Enterprise Compute Environment, delivering advanced computational resources tailored to research needs. IT specialists assist with designing and deploying custom solutions using platforms like AggieCloud, AWS, Azure, and GCP. They provide guidance on setting up virtual machines, managing cloud access, and optimizing computational workflows for diverse research projects. Through consultations, evaluations, and implementation support, the team ensures researchers have the infrastructure needed to accelerate scientific discoveries and drive innovation.

Click here to find the resources referenced below and much more…

• Cloud: Explore cloud service providers, offering secure and powerful tools for research, collaboration, and data management.

• Storage: Discover comprehensive storage solutions designed to meet the diverse data management needs of research and academic communities. Storage platforms provide secure, scalable, and accessible options to support institutional data requirements.

• Backups: Enterprise Backups deliver comprehensive data protection and recovery solutions to keep the university running smoothly. Robust systems ensure critical data is securely preserved, rapidly recoverable, and compliant with university standards to prevent disruptions to research and workflows.

• Specialized Research & Management Tools: Complement your core infrastructure with these specialized research and management tools such as RedCap, Globus, TAMU AI services, etc.
• Schedule a Consultation: Connect with the ECE Team and develop custom solutions to deploy advanced computational resources.

Responsible data management is essential to maintaining the integrity, security, and compliance of research conducted at Texas A&M University. The following resources provide guidance on the policies, procedures, and agreements that govern how research data should be handled, protected, and shared. Researchers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these standards to ensure alignment with university, federal, and regulatory requirements. 

University SAP 15.99.03.M1.03, The Responsible Stewardship of Research Data: This SAP outlines the assignment of responsibilities, procedures and processes that will assure that research data is properly recorded, retained for the required period of time and made available for review as obligated.

University SAP 29.01.03.M0.01, Security of Electronic Information Resources: The purpose of this Standard Administrative Procedure (SAP) is to establish the responsibilities and information security controls necessary to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of those information resources.

Federal Regulatory IT Compliance: Defining rules and guidelines for information technology use across the Texas A&M campus (e.g. CUI, HPPA, FERPA).

University Research Data Privacy: Guidance on understanding the nature of the data being used in research including data classified as critical or confidential.

Data Use/Transfer Agreements: Understanding Data Use/Transfer Agreements responsibilities and requirements.