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Statutory Authorities, Standards, and STI-Related DOE Directives

Established in 1947, the Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) grew out of the post-World War II initiative to make scientific research of the Manhattan Project as freely available to the public as possible. Today, OSTI fulfills the responsibilities related to the collection, preservation, and dissemination of scientific and technical information originating from Department of Energy R&D activities.

This responsibility has been summarized in the legislation of DOE and its predecessor agencies and, more recently, was defined as a specific OSTI responsibility in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58), Section 982. "The Secretary, through the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, shall maintain with the Department publicly available collections of scientific and technical information resulting from research, development, demonstration, and commercial applications activities supported by the Department."

Statutory Authorities, Policies, and Schedules:

Atomic Energy Acts of 1946, P. L.79-585 and 1954, as amended P.L. 83-703

Establishes a program for the dissemination of unclassified scientific and technical information and for the control of classified information (42 U.S.C. Sec. 2013, 2051, and 2161).

Freedom of Information Act, P.L. 89-487

Provides for public access to Federal agency records, which would include records containing scientific and technical information created with Federal funding (5 U.S.C. 552 et seq.).

Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, P.L. 93-438

Defines responsibilities for developing, collecting, distributing, and making scientific and technical information available for distribution (42 U.S.C. Sec. 5813, 5817).

Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977, P.L. 95-91

Provides for maintaining a central source of information and disseminating information (42 U.S.C. Sec. 5916, 7112).

Title XXXII, National Nuclear Security Administration Act, as Amended, P.L. 106-65,

Establishes a separately organized agency within the Department of Energy in 2000. Link

Energy Policy Act of 2005, P.L. 109-58

"The Secretary, through the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, shall maintain within the Department publicly available collections of scientific and technical information resulting from research, development, demonstration, and commercial applications activities supported by the Department." (Section 982)

America COMPETES Act of 2007, P.L. 110-69

Requires that Federal agencies that conduct scientific research develop agency-specific policies and procedures regarding the public release of data and results of research (Section 1009).

America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, P.L. 111-358

Reauthorizes various programs intended to strengthen research and education in the United States, and establishes an Interagency Public Access Committee as relates to Federal science agencies (Section 103).

Presidential Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, Subject: Transparency and Open Government, January 21, 2009. Link

Presidential Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, Subject: Scientific Integrity, March 9, 2009. Link

2010 Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Memorandum on Scientific Integrity Link

2021 Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking Link

Presidential Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, Subject: Open Government Directive, December 8, 2009. Link

DOE Directives

Dissemination of scientific and technical information (STI) resulting from Department of Energy (DOE) research and development programs promotes scientific progress and public understanding and has been a fundamental requirement since the founding of the Department and its predecessor agencies. A number of laws require the Department to make its information available, while others place some limits on the dissemination of scientific and technical information for which the unauthorized release would be detrimental to national interests and security. Departmental directives are DOE's primary means of establishing policies, requirements, responsibilities, and procedures for Departmental elements and contractors.

DOE O 241.1C, Scientific and Technical Information Management, is the primary DOE directive on STI management and provides the overall DOE objective, requirements, and responsibilities within which these STI mandates are to be met. The following directives are also relevant to the management of STI.

  • DOE O 142.3B, Unclassified Foreign National Access Program, current version
  • DOE O 200.1A, Information Technology Management, current version
  • DOE O 206.1A, Department of Energy Privacy Program, current version
  • DOE O 243.1C, Records Management Program, current version
  • DOE O 412.1A, Work Authorization System, current version
  • DOE O 413.2C, Laboratory Directed Research and Development, current version
  • DOE O 452.7, Protection of Use Control Vulnerabilities and Designs, current version
  • DOE O 452.8, Control of Nuclear Weapon Data, current version
  • DOE O 457.1A, Nuclear Counterterrorism, current version
  • DOE O 471.1B, Identification and Protection of Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information, current version
  • DOE O 471.6, Information Security, current version
  • DOE O 471.7, Controlled Unclassified Information, current version
  • DOE O 475.2B, Identifying Classified Information, current version
  • DOE O 481.1E, Strategic Partnership Projects [Formerly Known as Work for Others (Non-Department of Energy Funded Work)], current version
  • DOE O 483.1B, DOE Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, current version
  • DOE O 484.1, Reimbursable Work for the Department of Homeland Security, current version

View additional DOE Directives.

DOE Acquisition Guide Link

DOE Guide to Financial Assistance Link

Department of Energy Research and Development Records Schedule Link

Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, 2 CFR Part 200 (Oct. 23, 2023) Link

Department of Energy Acquisitions Regulations, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, 2 CFR Part 910 (Oct. 23, 2023)

Department of Energy Acquisitions Regulations, 48 CFR Part 935

Department of Energy Acquisitions Regulations, Federal Acquisitions Regulations, 48 CFR Chapter 9

Federal Acquisition Regulations, 48 CFR 52.227-14

Research and Development (R&D) Technical Report Files (Scientific and Technical Information), N1-434-06-1

DOE Open Government Plan, current version

DOE Science and Technology (S&T) Risk Matrix

Identification and Protection of Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information, (10 CFR Part 1017)

Classified National Security Information, Executive Order 13526, 32 CFR Parts 2001 and 2003 Link

Controlled Unclassified Information, Executive Order 13556, 32 CFR Part 2002 Link

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) 2022 Memorandum, "Ensuring Free, Immediate, and Equitable Access to Federally Funded Research" Link

Secretarial Memo from Ernest J. Moniz for Heads of Departmental Elements, National Laboratory Directors, DOE Technology Center Directors, Subject: Public Access to the Results of DOE-Funded Scientific Research, September 4, 2014

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) 2013 Memorandum, "Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research." Link

DOE Public Access Plan, July 24, 2014

DOE Public Access Plan, June 2023

National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM)-33, January 14, 2021

Guidance for Implementing National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 on National Security Strategy for United States Government- Supported Research and Development, January 2022

National Science and Technology Council, Desirable Characteristics of Data Repositories for Federally Funded Research, May 2022

OMB Circular A-11, Preparation, Submission, and Execution of the Budget

OMB Circular A-110, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations

Standards

The following standards provide information on recommended practices as well as guidance for Departmental elements and others in the preparation of STI products.

  • ANSI/NISO Z39.18-2005; Scientific and Technical Reports - Preparation, Presentation, and Preservation
    This Standard outlines the elements, organization, and design of scientific and technical reports. It provides guidance to individuals and organizations in preparing reports and contains examples of best practices, with a recognition of the changing environment driven by the growing digital environment.
  • ANSI/NISO Z39.14-1997; Guidelines for Abstracts
    This standard helps authors and editors prepare useful abstracts by describing the components of an abstract and appropriate styles; includes examples which illustrate the instructions presented in the standard and clarifies how to handle special cases.
  • ANSI/NISO Z39.23-1997; Standard Technical Report Number Format and Creation
    This standard describes a flexible and unique numbering system that improves access to scientific and technical reports issued by the government and private organizations. It explains how and where the Standard Technical Report Number (STRN) should be assigned and used.