Federal Data Strategy PracticesThe Practices are intended to guide the development of a comprehensive data strategy thatencompasses Federal and Federally-sponsored program, statistical, and mission support data.The FDS team developed the draft Practices by considering concepts reflected in the FairInformation Practice Principles and the statutory requirements in the Paperwork Reduction Act,the E-Government Act, the Privacy Act, the Federal Information Security Modernization Act, theConfidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act, the Freedom of InformationAct, the Information Quality Act, the Federal Records Act, and the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act.Office of Management and BudgetOMB_fc2d8890-ba77-4c51-bbad-1cc10871c14eOffice of Science and Technology PolicyOSTP_ef596b11-ebfb-11e3-8734-1bc73c6c5db6Department of CommerceDOC_385d89c3-4f0e-4135-b59d-767da1df9bb3On June 27, 2018, the Department of Commerce published a Request for Comments (RFC) inthe Federal Register, which included a set of draft Principles for a comprehensive data strategyand asked the public to “review and provide feedback on their clarity, appropriateness,completeness, and potential duplications.” The public also submitted comments atstrategy.data.gov, the FDS website. The RFC closed on July 27 and the website closed tocomments on July 30. This process generated close to 100 comments related to the draftPrinciples. In response to these comments, the draft Principles were revised to reflect therecommendations and themes expressed in the public comments.Small Business AdministrationSBA_4c576d9e-8228-11e0-a7e3-d3267a64ea2a_1815bcea-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea00To guide the development of a comprehensive data strategy that encompasses Federal and Federally-sponsored program, statistical, and mission support data._1815be5c-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea00StewardshipStewardship Principles -- • Commenters suggested that the label “stewardship” was not descriptive of thePrinciples included in that category. They noted that the term “stewardship”encompasses Principles listed both under the stewardship and quality categoriesand includes the responsible use of data. They suggested that the first category wasbetter described as data governance. In response, the category “Stewardship” was changed to “Ethical Governance,” and a Mission Statement was added to keepstewardship as an important higher-order concept included in these Principles.• A commenter suggested that the Ethics Principle appear first in the list to highlight itsimportance, and another commenter suggested that this Principle should include theconcept of the “public good.” In response, “Uphold Ethics” is listed as the firstPrinciple, and “public interest” was changed to “public good.”• Because one commenter suggested alternative adjectives, the phrase “modernsecurity practices,” was changed to “sound security practices.”• One commenter suggested linking the concept of transparency to public trust; inresponse, “to engender public trust” was clarified as the reason for transparency, and“acquiring, using, and disseminating” was simplified and broadened to “purposes anduses.”QualityQuality Principles -- • In response to comments noting that the stewardship concept was broader than datagovernance and management and included aspects of quality and responsible use,this category label was changed from “Quality” to “Conscious Design” to make itmore descriptive of the Principles it encompasses.• Public comment revealed confusion about the intent and focus of the draft Principleson Value and Intentionality, particularly the meaning of “create value.” Also, severalcommenters noted the omission of “fitness for use” as a concept relevant to thiscategory. In response, these two Principles were revised to reflect a focus onharnessing existing data and anticipating future uses, and the order of the Principleswas changed to position complementary Principles together. In addition, “fitness foruse” was incorporated into the concept of “anticipating future uses.”• Commenters noted that the Relevance Principle should encompass integrity,accuracy, and appropriateness (fitness for use). In response, the description of thisPrinciple was revised to specifically address quality and integrity in the first sentenceand add the concepts of “appropriate and accurate” in the second sentence.Continuous ImprovementContinuous Improvement Principles -- • Commenters noted that the Responsiveness Principle should not be limited to datasharing and access. One commenter suggested it should include updating on an ongoing basis and another commenter suggested adding a statement about the cyclicalnature of gathering and using stakeholder input. Also, a commenter suggestedspecifically mentioning state and local governments as stakeholders. In response,this Principle description was revised to more broadly encompass data collection,analysis, and dissemination, to include a statement about the cyclical nature ofgathering and using stakeholder input, and to not specifically cite state and localgovernments as stakeholders. Moreover, “Federally-sponsored” was added to thetypes of data encompassed by the FDS to more specifically address the value ofstate-collected administrative data used for Federal programs.• Several commenters said the Best Practices Principle was vague and redundant, sothat Principle was deleted.• One comment on the Learning Principle suggested that ongoing investment intechnical infrastructure and human resources should be added to theResponsiveness Principle. Other commenters made general suggestions about theneed for resources to use data as an asset. In response, the descriptions wereclarified to state that learning with and about data happens “through ongoinginvestment in data infrastructure and human resources.”• In response to a comment that “practice accountability” doesn’t go far enough andthat it is important to assign accountability, “assign responsibility” was added to thedescription of the Accountability Principle.CultureBuild a Culture that Values Data and Promotes Public Use_1815bf6a-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea001QuestionsIdentify Data Needs to Answer Key Agency Questions_1815c06e-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea001.1Use the learningagenda process to identify andprioritize the agency's key questionsand the data needed to answer them.NeedsAssess and Balance the Needs of Stakeholders_1815c85c-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea001.2Identify and engagestakeholders throughout the datalifecycle to identify stakeholder needsand to incorporate stakeholderfeedback into government priorities tomaximize entrepreneurship,innovation, scientific discovery,economic growth, and the public good.UsageChampion Data Use_1815caf0-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea001.3Leaders set anexample, incorporating data indecision-making and targetingresources to maximize the value ofdata for decision making,accountability, and the public good.Decision-MakingUse Data to Guide Decision-Making_1815cd16-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea001.4Effectively, routinely, transparently,and appropriately use data in policy,planning, and operations to guidedecision making; share the data andanalyses behind those decisions.SharingPrepare to Share_1815ce4c-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea001.5Assess andproactively address the procedural,regulatory, legal, and cultural barriersto sharing data within and acrossFederal agencies, as well as withexternal partners.InsightsConvey Insights from Data_1815cf6e-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea001.6Use arange of communication tools andtechniques to effectively presentinsights from data to a broad set ofaudiences.SpendingIncrease Accountability of Federal Spending_1815d086-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea001.7Align Federal spendingdata with performance data to enablethe public to understand the results ofFederal investments and to supportinformed decision making.PerceptionsMonitor and Address Public Perceptions_1815d194-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea001.8The PublicRegularly assess andaddress public confidence in thevalue, accuracy, objectivity, andprivacy protection of Federal data tomake strategic improvements,advance agency missions, andimprove public messages aboutplanned and potential uses of Federaldata.ConnectionsConnect Data Functions Across Agencies_1815d2a2-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea001.9Establish Communities ofPractice for common agency datafunctions (e.g., data management,access, analytics, informatics, usersupport) to promote efficiency,collaboration, and coordination.ResourcesProvide Resources to Explicitly Leverage Data Assets_1815d432-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea001.10Ensure thatsufficient human and fiscal resourcesare available to support using data foragency decision making andaccountability and to spurcommercialization, innovation, andpublic use.Governance, Management & ProtectionGovern, Manage, and Protect Data_1815d568-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002GovernancePrioritize Data Governance_1815d680-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.1Ensurethere are sufficient authorities, roles,organizational structures, policies, andresources in place to transparentlysupport the management,maintenance, and use of strategicdata assets.Confidentiality & PrivacyGovern Data to Protect Confidentiality and Privacy_1815d798-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.2Ensurethere are sufficient authorities, roles,organizational structures, policies, andresources in place to provideappropriate access to confidential dataand maintain public trust andsafeguard privacy.IntegrityProtect Data Integrity_1815d8b0-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.3Emphasizestate-of-the-art data security inInformation Technology securitypractices for every system that isrefreshed, architected, or replaced toaddress current and emerging threats;foster innovation and leverage newtechnologies to maintain protection.AuthenticityConvey Data Authenticity_1815d9c8-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.4Disseminate data sets such that theirauthenticity is discoverable andverifiable by users throughout theinformation lifecycle, consistent withopen data practice, and encourageappropriate attribution from users.MaturityAssess Maturity_1815dc02-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.5Evaluate thematurity of all aspects of agency datacapabilities to inform priorities forstrategic resource investment.InventoryInventory Data Assets_1815dd42-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.6Maintain aninventory of data assets with sufficientcompleteness, quality, and metadatato facilitate discovery and collaborationin support of informing key agencyquestions and meeting stakeholderneeds.ValueRecognize the Value of Data Assets_1815de64-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.7Assign value to data assetsbased on maturity, key agencyquestions, stakeholder feedback, andapplicable law and regulation toappropriately prioritize and documentresource decisions.PerspectiveManage with a Long View_1815dfa4-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.8Includedata investments in annual capitalplanning processes and associatedguidance to ensure appropriated fundsare being used efficiently to leveragedata as a strategic long-term asset.DocumentationMaintain Data Documentation_1815e38c-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.9Storeup-to-date and comprehensive datadocumentation in accessiblerepositories to facilitate use anddocument quality, utility, andprovenance in support of informingkey agency questions and meetingstakeholder needs.StandardsLeverage Data Standards_1815e60c-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.10Adopt oradapt, create if needed, andimplement data standards withinrelevant communities of interest tomaximize data quality and facilitateuse, access, sharing, andinteroperability.AlignmentAlign Agreements with Data Management Requirements_1815e74c-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.11Establish terms and conditions forcontracts, grants, cooperativeagreements, and other agreementsthat meet data managementrequirements for processing, storage,access, transmission, and disposition.ObstaclesIdentify Opportunities to Overcome Resource Obstacles_1815e9ea-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.12Coordinate withstakeholders to identify mutually acceptable cost recovery, sharedservice, or partnership opportunities toenable data access while conservingavailable resources to meet userdemand.AmendmentAllow Amendment_1815eb48-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.13Establish clearprocedures to allow members of thepublic to access and amend Federaldata about themselves, as appropriateand in accordance with Federal laws,regulations, and policies, in order tosafeguard privacy, reduce potentialharm from inaccurate data, andpromote transparency.PreservationEnhance Data Preservation_1815ecb0-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.14Preserve Federal data in accordancewith applicable law, regulation, policy,approved schedules, and missionrelevance.Coordination & SharingCoordinate Federal Data Assets_1815edf0-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.15Coordinate and share data assetsacross Federal agencies to advanceprogress on shared and similarobjectives, fulfill broader Federalinformation needs, and reducecollection burden.Intergovernmental SharingShare Data Between State, Local, and Tribal Governments and Federal Agencies_1815ef30-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea002.16State AgenciesLocal AgenciesTribal GovernmentsFederal AgenciesFacilitate datasharing between state, local, and tribalgovernments and the FederalGovernment, where relevant andappropriate and with properprotections, particularly for programsthat are Federally funded and locallyadministered, to enable richeranalyses for more informed decisionmaking.UsagePromote Efficient and Appropriate Data Use_1815f07a-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003CapacityIncrease Capacity for Data Management and Analysis_1815f1b0-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003.1Federal WorkforceEducateand empower the Federal workforceby investing in training, tools,communities, and other opportunitiesto expand capacity for critical data-related activities such as analysis andevaluation, data management, andprivacy protection.QualityAlign Quality with Intended Use_1815f2dc-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003.2Data likely to inform important publicpolicy or private sector decisions mustbe of appropriate utility, integrity, andobjectivity.Re-UseDesign Data for Use and Re-Use_1815f4a8-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003.3Design new data collections with theend uses and users in mind to ensurethat data are necessary and of highenough quality to meet planned andfuture agency and stakeholder needs.UsesCommunicate Planned and Potential Uses of Data_1815f606-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003.4Review datacollection procedures to update andimprove how planned and future usesof data are communicated, promotingpublic trust through transparency.Allowable UsageExplicitly Communicate Allowable Use_1815f73c-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003.5Regularly employ descriptivemetadata that provides clarity aboutaccess and use restrictions for Federaldata, explicitly recognizes andsafeguards applicable intellectualproperty rights, conveys attribution asneeded, and optimizes potential valueto stakeholders to maximizeappropriate legal use.SafetyHarness Safe Data Linkage_1815f890-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003.6Test,review, and deploy data linkage andanalysis tools that use secure andprivacy-protective technologies toaddress key agency questions andmeet stakeholder needs whileprotecting privacy.AccessPromote Wide Access_1815f9c6-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003.7Promoteequitable and appropriate access todata in open, machine-readable formand through multiple mechanisms,including through both Federal andnon-Federal providers, to meetstakeholder needs while protectingprivacy, confidentiality, and proprietaryinterests.Access MethodsDiversify Data Access Methods_1815fb1a-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003.8Invest in the creation and usability ofmultiple tiers of access to make dataas accessible as possible whileminimizing privacy risk and protectingconfidentiality.Disclosure RiskReview Data Releases for Disclosure Risk_1815fc8c-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003.9Review Federaldata releases to the public to assessand minimize the risk of reidentification, consistent withapplicable laws and policies, andpublish reviews to promotetransparency and public trust.PartnershipsLeverage Partnerships_1815fdea-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003.10Create andsustain partnerships that facilitateinnovation with commercial, academic,and other partners to advance agencymission and maximize economicopportunities, intellectual value, andthe public good.Buying PowerLeverage Buying Power_1815ff48-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003.11Monitorneeds and systematically leveragebuying power for private-sector dataassets, services, and infrastructure topromote efficiency and reduce Federalcosts.Collaborative ComputingLeverage Collaborative Computing Platforms_181600b0-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003.12Periodically review andoptimize the use of moderncollaborative computing platforms tominimize costs, improve performance,and increase use.Federal StakeholdersSupport Federal Stakeholders_18160204-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003.13Engage with relevant agencies toshare expert knowledge of dataassets, promote wider use, improveusability and quality, and meet missiongoals.Non-Federal StakeholdersSupport Non-Federal Stakeholders_18160358-2e66-11ea-a970-7be82183ea003.14Engage with industry, academic, andother non-Federal users of data toshare expert knowledge of dataassets, promote wider use, improveusability and quality, and advanceinnovation and commercialization.2020-01-03https://strategy.data.gov/assets/docs/2019-2020-federal-data-strategy-revisions-based-on-feedback.pdfOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net