1. The Case for Data Management: Agency Requirements
Introduction:
This is the Federation of Earth Science Information Partners Data Management Short Course, Section: The Case for Data Management, Module: Agency Requirements
Slide 1: Title: The Case for Data Management: Agency Requirements
This training module is part of the Federation of Earth Science Information Partners (or ESIP Federation's) Data Management Course for Scientists. The subject of this module is "The Case for Data Management: Agency Requirements." This module was authored by Ruth Duerr from the National Snow and Ice Data Center. Besides the ESIP Federation, sponsors of this Data Management Course are the Data Conservancy and the United States National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Version 1.0
Review Date
Ruth Duerr
National Snow and Ice Data Center

2. Overview
Most agencies have or are developing data management policies or guidelines
As an investigator
You may need to discuss data management in your proposals in order to obtain funding
You may need to follow agency mandates in regards to managing or archiving the data you generate in order to retain funded status
Slide 2: Overview
This module provides a high level overview of the ways that some of the U.S. Federal Agencies, in particular, those that deal with Earth Science data, are promoting good data management practices.
Most agencies have or are in the process of developing data management policies or guidelines. And based on those guidelines, you, as an investigator, may need to discuss data management in your proposals in order to obtain funding or you may need to follow agency mandates in regards to managing or archiving the data you generate in order to retain funding status. Since these are, for the most part, new requirements you will have to decide for yourself whether the carrot of funding is worth the new responsibilities.

3. Agencies requiring data management discussion in proposals
NSF requires a two page data management plan submitted with all proposals
Many NASA Earth Science solicitations require a discussion of data management in submitted proposals
NOAA requires that NOAA grantees include a Data Sharing Plan as part of their project narrative
Proposals to the USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center or any of the Department of the Interiors Climate Science Centers require a Proposal Data Management Plan
Slide 3: Agencies requiring data management discussion in proposals
This is a list of the United States-based Earth Science agencies that require discussion of data management in their proposals. The National Science Foundation (NSF) requires a two-page Data Management Plan submitted with all proposals. Many National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth Science data solicitations require a discussion of data management in submitted proposals. NOAA very recently created a directive that requires that NOAA grantees include Data Sharing Plans in their project proposals. And also, any proposal to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center or any of the Department of the Interior’s Climate Science Centers requires a Data Management Plan as part of a proposal.

4. Agencies with data management mandates
Many NSF directorates and even specific solicitations have detailed requirements for what data should be archived and where the data should go
All NASA Earth Science science missions, projects, and grants and cooperative agreements require a data management plan
NOAA is in the process of developing a comprehensive suite of data management related procedural directives covering all NOAA-related data activities
USGS NCCWSC and DOI CSC funded projects must develop and maintain a Research Data Management Plan
Slide 4: Agencies with data management mandates
In addition to the requirements for inclusion of data management plans in your proposals, those agencies mentioned previously have issued mandates to manage data, as you might expect. In particular, many NSF directorates and sometimes even specific solicitations include detailed requirements for where your data needs to go at the end of your project, and what you should be doing with it along the way. For instance, all NASA Earth Science missions, projects, grants and cooperative agreements have a data management planning requirement in that you need to create and maintain a data management plan as part of your project. NOAA is in the process of developing a very comprehensive suite of data management-related procedural directives that cover almost all of the types of NOAA data activities that you could possibly imagine. If you are funded by the USGS or one of the Department of Interior groups, you will need to take your Data Management Plan from your proposal and convert it into a more comprehensive Research Data Management Plan when you are funded.

5. Resources
UC3 overview of Federal Funding Agency Data Management and Sharing Policies:
Agency Guidance:
NSF Guidance:
NASA Data Policy: data/data-information-policy/
NOAA Administrative Order : html
USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center guidance:
Slide 5: Resources
We’ve collected some additional resources that you might find helpful should you need more information about some of the areas that we’ve covered briefly within this module. To find additional resources that can provide more information about data management planning requirements by the various agencies, go to the University of California Curation Center (UC3) overview of the Federal Funding Agencies Data Management and Sharing Policies website listed on the Resources slide. Links to specific guidance from each of the agencies mentioned: NSF, NASA, NOAA, and USGS can also be found on the Resources slide.

6. Other Relevant Modules
Expanded discussion by agency
NSF data management planning
NASA data policies
NOAA Administrative Order , Management of Environmental and Geospatial Data and Information
Data management plans
Local data management
Preservation strategies
Slide 6: Other Relevant Modules
The modules of the ESIP Data Management Courses have been designed to complement and supplement each other. In light of this plan, we think you might find the following, related modules relevant to you as you gain a better understanding of data management practices.
For more information about specific requirements on an agency-by-agency basis, you can see the other modules in the Case for Data Stewardship section that discuss NSF Data Management Planning, NASA Data Policies and the NOAA Administrative Order Forthcoming USGS requirements are not yet represented in the modules.
An entire section is available on writing Data Management Plans in general, with a complete suite of modules on that topic. If you need to expand on your Data Management Plan and want to learn about how best to manage your data during your research project, you can check out the modules in the Local Data Management section. Finally, since many agencies are concerned about preserving and sharing your data over time, the Preservation Strategies section offers you some hints on how and where to preserve your data for the long term.
Thank you very much for your interest in the ESIP Data Management Short Courses.