“PURPOSE: This document outlines the Smithsonian Institution’s plan to provide increased public access to certain peer-reviewed scholarly publications and supporting digital research data that arise from research funded, in whole or in part, by a federal funding source (hereinafter “Federally Funded Research Materials” or “FFRM”), consistent with the principles of access under the Office of Science and Technology Policy Memorandum dated February 22, 2013. This plan is effective as of October 1, 2015; only FFRM submitted for publication on or after the effective date shall be covered.

PLAN: The Smithsonian intends to make publicly available peer-reviewed scholarly publications and supporting digital research data as well as related metadata that arise from research funded, in whole or in part, by federal funding sources after the official release or publication date and a subsequent embargo period. The Smithsonian will use a twelve-month post-publication embargo period as a guideline and will determine alternate embargo periods based on discipline, negotiated publisher agreements, and/or demonstrated special circumstances. Demonstrated special circumstances that prevent materials from being made publicly available after publication date and embargo may include, for example, restrictions arising from copyright, privacy, contract, or other “allowable restriction categories” contained in Smithsonian Directive 609 – Digital Asset Access and Use. This plan ss intended to cover the FFRM in all fields in which the Smithsonian conducts research, including but not limited to the fields of science, history, art, and culture. This plan provides a framework for the sharing of FFRM and promotes the following objectives:

• Reaffirm the Smithsonian’s commitment to increasing public access to FFRM to enable the public to read, analyze, and download such FFRM.
• Support the governance of and best practices for managing FFRM across the Smithsonian.
• Ensure effective access to and reliable preservation of FFRM for research, development, and education.
• Preserve and increase the use of FFRM to enhance discoveries…”