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NASA
Procedural
Requirements

NPR 1080.1B
Effective Date: February 21, 2017
Expiration Date: February 21, 2025

COMPLIANCE IS MANDATORY FOR NASA EMPLOYEES

Subject: Requirements for the Conduct of NASA Research and Technology (R&T)

Responsible Office: Science Mission Directorate

Chapter 5. Quality, Publication and Dissemination of Results, and Data Protection

5.1 Responsibilities

5.1.1 NASA and NASA-sponsored investigators are responsible for the quality of the R&T information submitted for publication or presented at technical meetings.

5.1.2 When scientific and technical information (STI) is released by NASA, NPR 2200.2, Requirements for Documentation, Approval and Dissemination of Scientific and Technical Information will be followed for obtaining approval for dissemination of the information.

5.2 Quality of R&T Information

5.2.1 The OMB defines "quality" of R&T information as the encompassing term, of which "utility," "objectivity," and "integrity" are the constituents. "Utility" refers to the usefulness of the information to the intended users. "Objectivity" focuses on whether the disseminated information is being presented in an accurate, clear, complete, and unbiased manner, and as a matter of substance, is accurate, reliable, and unbiased. "Integrity" refers to security -- the protection of information from unauthorized access or revision to ensure that the information is not compromised through corruption or falsification.

5.2.2 NASA conforms to these requirements by using program/project reviews as discussed in NPR 7120.8, to ensure utility and objectivity. External peer review, as described in Paragraph 3.3, is used by NASA to measure utility and objectivity of R&T programs. Integrity is maintained through compliance with the requirements established in Section 5.4.

5.3 Publication and Dissemination of Results

5.3.1 NASA and NASA-sponsored investigators publish or disseminate the results of NASA R&T activities using mechanisms that include the NASA Scientific and Technical Information (STI) Report Series, NASA Web sites, and non-NASA scientific and technical channels such as professional journals, conference presentations, or conference proceedings. NASA policy and requirements for STI are described in the NPD 2200.1 and NPR 2200.2.

5.3.2 In order to ensure that high quality standards are maintained, NASA and NASA-sponsored investigators should publish research results in the peer-reviewed literature to the greatest practical extent. Peer review of results, methodologies, and techniques helps ensure technical excellence of research conducted or supported by NASA.

5.3.3 Technical publications and reports resulting from grants and cooperative agreements are provided as required 2 CFR pt. 200 and 2 CFR pt. 1800.

5.3.4 NASA and NASA-sponsored investigators should also support education and public outreach, collaborate with the NASA's Office of Communication in preparing press releases and related materials, and engage in community service activities such as serving on peer review panels and advisory bodies.

5.3.5 NASA places no restrictions on publication or dissemination solely by contractors or grantees of the results of R&T conducted under a NASA contract or grant. Contractors and grantees have the right to publish or disseminate STI first produced by the contractor or grantee in the performance of a contract or grant, except to the extent such STI may be subject to Federal export control or national security laws or regulations, or unless otherwise provided in the contract or grant.

5.3.6 NASA's Document Availability Authorization (DAA) review of materials to be released publicly applies only when there is a NASA civil servant author or when contractors are releasing information under the direction of NASA. DAA is not required before a grant recipient can release information but the recipient is required to follow statutes and regulations on export control when releasing information.

5.3.7 In keeping with NPD 2230.1, all award recipients will be required to upload the as-accepted manuscript versions of peer reviewed publications to NASA's "PubSpace" part of PubMed Central. For more information see http://www.nasa.gov/open/researchaccess.

5.4 Data Protection

Protection of R&T data and documents is maintained in accordance with NPD 1440.6, NPD 1600.2, NPR 1600.1, NPR 2810.1, NPR 7500.1, NPD 2200.1 and NPR 2200.2.

5.5 Record Retention

All documentary information, regardless of format, made or received in the course of conducting NASA R&T programs are Federal records and are maintained, safeguarded, and dispositioned in accordance with the requirements of NPR 1441.1, NASA Records Management Program Requirements.

5.6 Data Availability

5.6.1 To the extent practicable, when NASA solicits proposals for analysis of mission data (and comparably unique data from large facilities) it should allow only proposals that focus primarily on data that is accessible to all proposers far enough in advance of the due date that competitors have a chance to propose to this data. This restriction would not apply to proposals to acquire data and analyze/model/interpret it in a single project, nor should it preclude proposals on data previously acquired without Federal funding, but which is of interest to NASA.

5.6.2 In keeping with NPD 2230.1, NASA requires data management plans from proposers.

5.6.3 NASA seeks to continue and increase the long-standing culture of promoting the full and open sharing of digital data produced by R&T both from intramural researchers and by recipients of NASA R&T grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts, while precluding the inappropriate dissemination of sensitive but unclassified information and protecting intellectual property rights.

5.6.4 Per NPD 2200.1, NASA and NASA-funded investigators disseminate STI in a manner consistent with U.S. laws and regulations, Federal information policy, intellectual property rights, technology transfer protection requirements, and budgetary and technological limitations.

5.6.5 To the extent a contractor or grantee receives or is given access to STI necessary for the performance of a contract or grant, and the STI contains restrictive markings, the STI is treated in accordance with the markings. Such restrictive markings identify specific STI, which may be used only for specific purposes and is not disclosed or disseminated.