This article describes the Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP) Review service offered by the UNC Research Data Management Core (RDMC) and how to submit a request for this service.
In This Article:
What is a DMSP Review?
A DMSP review is a service provided by the Research Data Management Core for all UNC researchers. Our expert staff consider your proposed plan and provide feedback on the appropriateness and feasibility of implementing the plan. A DMSP review will focus advice on all the elements of the plan, depending on the funding agency:
- data formats and types
- documentation
- metadata standards
- software and tools
- short-term storage
- preservation workflow
- trustworthy data repositories
- identifiers
- terms of use
- access controls, and
- roles and responsibilities of the research team.
Reviewers may also provide guidance for implementation, budgeting, and/or ethical and legal considerations.
Why Have a DMSP Review?
Going through a DMSP review ensures that your plan is complete, feasible, and compliant with funder requirements and best practices. Judicious data management planning demonstrates to funders that the research team has carefully considered data integrity, security, and policies in how they will manage and share their data.
What is the Difference Between a Full and Limited Review?
There is no guarantee that a Full DMSP Review will result in sponsor approval. However, a full review greatly reduces the chances that your DMSP will not be compliant with funder requirements, which is a major reason for rejection. A Full DMSP Review can also help ensure that your planned DMSP implementation is feasible within the project budget.
Table describing the difference between a full DMSP review and a limited DMSP review
| Key Components of the DMSP Review |
Full DMSP Review |
Limited DMSP Review |
Basic Requirements
The DMSP includes each required section/element in accordance with funder policy and guidance |
✓ |
✓ |
Legibility
The DMSP contains language that is coherent and relevant to the respective DMSP section |
✓ |
✓ |
Repository selection
The DMSP specifies the name of an established repository to be used for data archiving and sharing |
✓ |
✓ |
Data description
The DMSP presents sufficient, reasonable information about the data described in the proposal narrative and the necessary provisions for data management and sharing |
✓ |
cursory only |
Ethical/Legal issues
The DMSP addresses any ethical or legal issues that may affect data access, sharing and/or reuse |
✓ |
cursory only |
Repository requirements
The DMSP describes a data archiving and sharing strategy that corresponds to the services and requirements of the repository selected for data archiving and sharing |
✓ |
✗ |
Standards and best practices
The DMSP aligns with FAIR data principles and other prevailing data management and sharing standards and best practices |
✓ |
✗ |
Resource referral (upon request)
If necessary, DMSP feedback includes recommendations for tools, services, and other appropriate resources that support DMSP implementation |
time permitting |
✗ |
Consultation (upon request)
30-minute consultation with data management expert to review the DMSP draft and address any questions and/or issues after initial review |
time permitting |
✗ |
Final review (upon request)
The revised DMSP is given a final review to ensure that suggested edits have been suitably incorporated |
time permitting |
✗ |
How to Get a DMSP Review?
UNC researchers can request an optional DMSP Review through the RDMC Help Center. RDMC staff will review your plan for completeness, appropriateness, and compliance. You will receive feedback with recommendations for improving your plan and advice on implementation.
If you are interested in getting a DSMP review from RDMC:
- Create your DMSP in the DMP Tool
- Submit a DMSP Review request via our Support Portal
Tip: RDMC staff require at least three weeks for a Full Review. Any DMSP review request submitted with less than three weeks will be provided a Limited Review. Requests submitted with less than 5 business days before the funder submission deadline will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis pending staff availability.
What Materials are Needed fo a DMSP Review?
For a thorough review of your DMSP, it is helpful to give the reviewer as much information as possible to assess your proposed data management and sharing plans. At a minimum, RDMC requires the following:
- Draft proposal narrative, especially data collection section
- Funding call for proposals URL
- Funder’s data management and sharing policy or requirements
- Draft DMSP in the DMPTool.
An Example of a DMSP Review Request
Here is an example of what a completed DMSP review request form should include. All required documents must be attached to the submission form for RDMC staff to schedule the review. Any request submitted with missing documentation will be closed with no further action taken toward a review until the request is resubmitted with all required documentation.
How to Grant RDMC Access to Comment on the DMSP within DMPTool
As part of the review process, RDMC staff will need access to your DMSP within the DMPTool. To grant access, please follow these steps:
- Login to the DMP Tool
- Navigate to the Collaborators tab of your draft plan.
- Scroll to the bottom and enter rdmc_dmsp@unc.edu under the Invite Collaborators field.
- Set permissions as Editor.
- Click Save.
Caution: Please do not email rdmc_dmsp@unc.edu directly as it is not regularly checked. All inquiries should be submitted through our
support portal.
How to Address Feedback From a DMSP Review
Once your DMSP review is complete, you will receive feedback on how to improve your proposed data management and sharing within the Comments section of the DMP Tool.
RDMC provides comments and recommendations to assist researchers in meeting the requirements of funding agency data sharing policies. Researchers are not obligated to incorporate these recommendations.