The U.S. National Science Foundation requires a Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP) that details how an NSF-funded project will manage, disseminate and share research results. 

Beyond the data management and sharing plan guidelines outlined in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), the NSF Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) may have additional instruction for its divisions and offices. Some funding opportunities in GEO and across the agency may also have unique requirements that will be outlined in those opportunity announcements. 

Although DMSPs will have unique aspects across research communities, each DMSP should be appropriate for the data being generated and reflect the best practices and standards in the proposed area of research. 

AGS refers principal investigators to the PAPPG.

Researchers from the paleoclimate community are encouraged to upload project DMSPs using a fillable document.

OCE requires that metadata files full data sets, derived products and physical collections, must be made publicly accessible upon publication or within two years of collection whichever comes first. 

• Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) Sample and Data Policy (NSF 24-124): OCE guidance published September 2024. OCE also offers additional information on data repositories. 
• Previous OCE guidance: NSF 17-037 and NSF 11-060.

OPP released a Dear Colleague Letter in 2022 with recommendations and requirements to advance open polar data to maximize the benefit of NSF's investments in research, facilitate transparency and replicability in polar science and increase the impact of polar research. OPP also maintains a list of data repositories and resources.