On February 25, 2026, the NIH released NOT-OD-26-046 announcing a new simplified and streamlined Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP) format. The updated format is intended to reduce applicant burden and support more consistent compliance monitoring. Beginning May 25, 2026, applicants will be required to use this new, shorter, standardized format.
The revised DMSP focuses on a concise set of required elements:
- Three yes/no questions addressing whether the scientific data underlying peer-reviewed publications and other findings resulting from grant will be shared, whether it will be shared by required timelines, and whether it will remain available for as long as repository or journal policies require.
- A brief explanation (up to 300 words) if data sharing is limited for ethical, legal, or technical reasons.
- A yes/no question on protections for human participant data, including the use of access controls, consistent with NOT-OD-22-213 (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-22-213.html).
- A short table (100 words maximum) listing anticipated data types and the repositories (or example repositories) where data may be shared.
- Two additional yes/no items for projects subject to the NIH Genomic Data Sharing (GDS) Policy.
The new DMSP format is currently under OMB review and can be viewed on the Data Management and Sharing Plan Format page.
DMPTool will be incorporating the new format into its template options once finalized.
If you have any questions, please contact medical-librarian@duke.edu. The Medical Center Library NIH Data Sharing libguide will be updated as new information is released.
To meet with a Duke University Libraries data management consultant, email datamanagement@duke.edu. Consultants can assist with writing your DMS plan, informed consent language related to data sharing, curation practices, and end-user licensing or data use agreements.