NOT-OD-26-100: Implementation Update: NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan Requirements

"This Guide Notice provides an update to the research community on forms changes when NIH transitions to the updated Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan format which includes reporting changes to previously approved DMS Plans.

Background

The NIH Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy ensures that the benefits of taxpayer funded research are maximally shared to advance research, improve health outcomes, and cultivate trust in the biomedical research enterprise. When released in 2023, NIH issued supplemental information outlining desired elements of a DMS Plan. After several years of implementation experience, NIH issued Notice NOT-OD-26-046, Updated Elements of an NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan, to provide a structured template and format across all NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs.) NIH is finalizing implementation of this new format to ensure NIH's data sharing goals are achieved while reducing administrative burden and improving reporting efficiency. The planned updates to the DMS Plan format do not constitute a change in NIH policy.

The NIH Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy continues to require applicants to submit a DMS Plan for any NIH-funded or conducted research that will generate scientific data, with limited exceptions as described in the DMS Policy (See, NIH Grants Policy Statement 8.2.3.2 and the list of NIH activity codes subject to the DMS Policy). 

Transitioning to the Updated DMS Plan Format

Beginning in FY 2027, NIH will require all existing awards and applications subject to the NIH DMS Policy to transition and align with the updated DMS Plan format. This requirement applies regardless of when the competing application was submitted."