Data Standards
This section is a work in progress; your input is requested!
We are currently working to develop this data standards repository in response to Action 20 of the Federal Data Strategy and we welcome your feedback via Github or by emailing datagov@gsa.gov.
Guidance
OMB Circular A-119: Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities
Office of Management and Budget circular that directs agencies to use standards developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies rather than government-unique standards, except where inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise…
Implementation Guidance for the Title V of the E-Government Act, Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA)
The purpose of the CIPSEA implementation guidance is to inform agencies about the requirements for using CIPSEA and to clarify the circumstances under which CIPSEA can be used. Dated June 15, 2007.…
Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA)
An Act to enhance the management and promotion of electronic government services and processes by establishing a Federal Chief Information Officer within the Office of Management and Budget, and by establishing a…
Schedule of Release Dates for Principal Federal Economic Indicators for 2019
Provides a schedule of release dates for principal Federal economic indicators for 2019.
FIPS 199: Standards for Security Categorization of Federal Information and Information Systems
Federal Information Processing Standards publication by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that contains standards for the categorization of federal information systems.
Source: National Institute of Standards and Technology
Format: PDF (13 pages, 74 KB)
Keywords: data standards, security
OMB M-06-28: Reporting Small Business Contracting Information
Directs agencies to ensure that reported small business contracts and related contract actions were actually awarded to small businesses. Each Department and agency is responsible for submitting accurate data to FPDS and…
OMB M-07-09: Collection of Information on Earmarks
Provides guidance on information collection for earmark reform. Dated January 25, 2007.
OMB M-10-22: Guidance for Online Use of Web Measurement and Customization Technologies
This Memorandum establishes new procedures and provides updated guidance and requirements for agency use of web measurement and customization technologies. The central goal is to respect and safeguard the privacy of the…
Source: Office of Management and Budget
Format: PDF (9 pages, 130 KB)
Keywords: privacy, data standards
OMB M-10-23: Guidance for Agency Use of Third-Party Websites and Applications
This Memorandum requires Federal agencies to take specific steps to protect individual privacy whenever they use third-party websites and applications to engage with the public. Dated June 25, 2010.
Source: Office of Management and Budget
Format: PDF (9 pages, 78 KB)
Keywords: privacy, data standards
OMB M-13-17: Next Steps in the Evidence and Innovation Agenda
To help agencies move forward in harnessing evidence and evaluation, this memorandum (1) provides guidance for 2015 agency Budget submissions and (2) invites agencies to participate in a series of workshops and…
OMB M-14-06: Guidance for Providing and Using Administrative Data for Statistical Purposes
To encourage the greater use of administrative data for statistical purposes, this Memorandum provides agencies with guidance for addressing the legal, policy, and operational issues that exist with respect to using administrative…
Source: Office of Management and Budget
Format: PDF (38 pages, 755 KB)
Keywords: data sharing, privacy, open data, data standards, access
OMB M-15-12: Increasing Transparency of Federal Spending by Making Federal Spending Data Accessible, Searchable, and Reliable
This Memorandum provides guidance to Federal agencies on current reporting requirements pursuant to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) as well as new requirements that agencies must employ pursuant to…
OMB M-15-15: Improving Statistical Activities through Interagency Collaboration
This memorandum strongly encourages the Federal statistical agencies and units, and their parent Departments, to build interagency collaboration that will help the Federal statistical community more effectively meet the information needs of…
OMB M-17-04: Additional Guidance for Data Act Implementation: Further Requirements For Reporting And Assuring Data Reliability
This Memorandum provides additional guidance to Federal agencies to support the technical operationalization of reporting to USASpending.gov in accordance with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of20062 (FFATA), as amended by…
OMB M-19-18: Federal Data Strategy – A Framework for Consistency
This memorandum establishes a Federal Data Strategy (Strategy) as a framework of operational principles and best practices that help agencies deliver on the promise of data in the 21st century. Through consistent…
Source: Office of Management and Budget
Format: PDF (8 Pages, 631 KB)
Keywords: data standards, Federal Data Strategy
Statistical Policy Directive No. 1: Fundamental Responsibilities of Federal Statistical Agencies and Recognized Statistical Units
This Directive affirms the fundamental responsibilities of Federal statistical agencies and recognized statistical units in the design, collection, processing, editing, compilation, storage, analysis, release, and dissemination of statistical information. Dated December 2,…
Statistical Policy Directive No. 2 — Addendum: Standards and Guidelines for Cognitive Interviews
This Addendum provides Standards and Guidelines for Conducting Cognitive Interviews. Dated October 12, 2016.
Statistical Policy Directive No. 2: Standards and Guidelines for Statistical Surveys
As part of an ongoing effort to improve the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information collected and disseminated by the Federal Government, OMB is issuing revised Standards and Guidelines for Statistical…
Statistical Policy Directive No. 3: Compilation, Release, and Evaluation of Principal Federal Economic Indicators
The revised directive clarifies and strengthens OMB guidance to Federal agencies on the compilation and release of principal economic indicators.
OMB Bulletin 17-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas
This bulletin establishes revised delineations for the Nation's Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas. The bulletin also provides delineations of Metropolitan Divisions as well as delineations of New…
Source: Office of Management and Budget
Format: PDF (221 pages)
Keywords: data standards, geospatial
Statistical Policy Directive No. 4: Release and Dissemination of Statistical Products Produced by Federal Statistical Agencies
Issues a new Statistical Policy Directive for the release and dissemination of statistical products produced by Federal statistical agencies. Dated March 7, 2008.
Statistical Policy Directive No. 10: Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
Announces OMB's final decision for the 2018 revision of Statistical Policy Directive No. 10, Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). Dated November 28, 2017.
Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity
Announces OMB's decision concerning the revision of Statistical Policy Directive No. 15, Race and Ethnic Standards for Federal Statistics and Administrative Reporting. Accepts the recommendations of the Interagency Committee for the Review…
Statistical Policy Directive No. 8: North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)/Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is a system for classifying establishments (individual business locations) by type of economic activity. This announces OMB's adoption of NAICS revisions. Dated August 8, 2016.…
Guidance on Agency Survey and Statistical Information Collections
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) requires agencies to submit requests to collect information from the public to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. This guidance is designed…