FSP FAQs: Publication Approval
Fundamental Science Practices for approval of information products, including approving officials for each product type, documents required for the Information Product Data System, policy and editorial issues that delay/prevent approval, provisional and final data and software review, approval and citation, digital repositories, digital object identifiers, dissemination, and the dark archive.
What is the role of the approving official in selecting an appropriate publication release or outlet? [070]
Selection of the appropriate USGS publication series or external outlet is made by the author and Science Center Director, and may include consultation with PSC staff, managers and BAOs. [Read more]
How is an author informed if a manuscript for a scientific information product is not approved? [069]
The author is informed by the Science Center Director or designee after he/she receives a rejection notification from the IPDS.
What happens after a manuscript for a scientific information product has received Bureau approval? [068]
After Bureau approval, the author returns the manuscript to the PSC [USGS Series Reports] or submits to the outside entity [e.g. journal editor, cooperator, etc]. For outside publications, author uploads approved manuscript and disseminates [IPDS record is closed and goes to the dark archive].[Read more]
How will an author or Science Center Director be informed that a scientific information product has been approved by a BAO? [067]
The product’s lead or senior USGS author will receive an automated notice from the IPDS when a scientific information product has received Bureau approval. [Read more]
What is a reasonable timeframe for Bureau approval? [066]
In FY2017 the average approval time was six business days, but the length of time for Bureau approval depends on a number of factors including length and complexity. Contacting your BAO in advance is recommended. [Read more]
What editorial failures or issues can require manuscript rejection, revision, and resubmittal to a BAO? [065]
The BAOs recognize poorly written/edited manuscripts as not acceptable under general USGS standards for science presentation and clarity of expression and will return them for further work. Texts with editorial issues of sufficient scope and scale such that one cannot focus on content usually result in rejection. [Read more]
What policy failures or issues can result in a manuscript’s rejection, revision, and resubmittal to a BAO? [064]
Issues in clear violation of FSP policy and procedures or other policies can result in rejection of a manuscript with a request for revision and resubmittal for approval. These issues include inappropriate/inadequate peer reviewers, incomplete peer review or reconciliation, inappropriate criticism of others, advocacy in presentation of results, lack of product endorsement disclaimers. [Read more]
How do BAOs respond to authors and Science Center Directors after reviewing a manuscript for approval? [063]
For brief comments, the BAOs will use the comment box in the IPDS and indicate changes needed on the manuscript as necessary. For more extensive comments, the BAOs will provide a memorandum attached as a supporting document in the IPDS or as notes and tracked changes in the approved manuscript that indicates changes needed in the manuscript as necessary. [Read more]
How is approval granted and what documents at a minimum must be submitted to the approving official? [062]
Approval is granted via the IPDS. The following documents are required: original manuscript; revised manuscript; for USGS-series and journal submissions, editor comments and directions in original form; all original peer reviewers' comments and all manuscript markups; a reconciliation document addressing all substantive peer review comments and any directions from the editor. [Read more]
How do FSP review and approval requirements apply when a non-USGS scientist is the lead or senior author of a scientific information product? [034]
The FSP review and approval requirements apply to a USGS scientist who is a coauthor even if a non-USGS scientist is the lead or senior author. If the FSP requirements are not followed, the USGS scientist may not be listed as a coauthor.
Who are the approving officials with authority to grant Bureau approval of science information products? [061]
Depending on the product or product content, Bureau approval authority (formerly Director's approval) is delegated to Science Center Directors and to Bureau Approving Officials (BAO)s in the Office of Science Quality and Integrity (OSQI). Refer to SM 205.18 for detailed information on the approval authority for various scientific information products. [Read more]