A data management plan (DMP) helps staff identify and plan to support the data management needs of a project. This document provides guidance on how to develop a DMP and identifies the items that should be considered to help ensure that data and associated products are documented, discoverable, accessible and secure throughout their useful lifespan. A DMP: 1) identifies key data management roles, 2) identifies project staff that will fill those roles and perform the associated duties and 3) summarizes how data are acquired, used, maintained and distributed. Any non-standard workflows, security requirements or access restrictions should be emphasized in the DMP.
The information in a DMP is used by project staff to identify resources that will be required to ensure that data are properly documented, made discoverable and secured. This allows the data to be reliable and reusable in future projects. An initial DMP should be completed during a project’s development phase and may be updated during the course of a project. Changes in data storage locations, responsible staff, or new data product needs are examples of items that may evolve over time. The DMP should be stored in the Service’s data repository along with other project documents, data, products and the associated metadata.
