DMSP Review

Owned by Mandy Gooch
Last updated: 2024-53-16
3 min read

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.

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.  

Learn more about DMSP Review Service

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:

  1. Create your DMSP in the DMPTool: https://dmptool.org

  1. Submit a DMSP Review request via our Help Center

RDMC staff require at least three weeks for a Full Review. Any DMSP review request submitted with less than three weeks will be provided an Express 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 for 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.

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.

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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:

  1. Login to the DMPTool

  2. Navigate to the Collaborators tab of your draft plan

  3. Scroll to the bottom and enter rdmc_dmsp@unc.edu under the ‘Invite Collaborators’ field

  4. Set permissions as Editor

  5. Click Save

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 DMPTool. It is your responsibility to consider and address the comments as appropriate for your proposed data.

We recommend reviewing our Knowledge Base to assist you in responding to specific feedback.