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Harvest Source Review and Validation

David Aguiar edited this page Aug 31, 2026 · 3 revisions

Harvest Source Review and Validation

This page explains how agencies can review current harvest sources and validate proposed or updated harvest sources before submitting a request for a new DCAT-US 3 harvest source or a change to an existing harvest source.

Agencies should use these tools before submitting a harvest source change request to help confirm existing harvest source information, test whether the proposed source is expected to pass validation, and reduce back-and-forth during the review process.


Quick Summary

Topic Resource Purpose
Review current harvest sources https://harvest.data.gov View current agency harvest sources
Validate proposed or updated harvest source https://harvest.data.gov/validate/ Test whether a proposed or updated harvest source is expected to pass validation
Submit harvest source change request https://touchpoints.app.cloud.gov/touchpoints/ffb7e9d0 Request a new DCAT-US 3 harvest source or a change to an existing harvest source
DCAT-US 3 implementation guidance https://resources.data.gov/resources/dcat-us-3-implementation/ Review DCAT-US 3 requirements and implementation guidance

Why Review and Validate Before Submitting a Request?

Before submitting a harvest source change request, agencies should review their current harvest sources and validate the proposed or updated harvest source.

This helps agencies:

  • Confirm existing harvest source information
  • Determine whether a new harvest source is needed
  • Determine whether an existing harvest source should be updated, replaced, or retired
  • Confirm that the proposed source URL is correct
  • Identify validation errors or warnings early
  • Resolve metadata issues before submitting a request
  • Reduce follow-up questions during Data.gov review
  • Support a smoother DCAT-US 3 transition process

Review Current Harvest Sources

Current Harvest Sources

Resource:
https://harvest.data.gov

Agencies can view their current harvest sources at harvest.data.gov.

This site allows agencies to review the harvest sources currently associated with their agency. Agencies should use this information to understand their existing harvest source configuration before requesting a new DCAT-US 3 harvest source or submitting a change to a current harvest source.


What Agencies Can Review

Agencies can use harvest.data.gov to review current harvest source information, including whether an agency already has existing harvest sources that may need to be updated, replaced, or retired.

Reviewing current harvest sources can help agencies determine whether they need to:

  • Request a new DCAT-US 3 harvest source
  • Update an existing harvest source
  • Correct harvest source information
  • Confirm the status or configuration of existing harvest sources
  • Identify whether a current source should be replaced, updated, or retired
  • Determine whether they are transitioning from DCAT-US 1.1 to DCAT-US 3

Questions to Ask When Reviewing Current Harvest Sources

Agencies may want to consider the following questions:

  • What harvest sources are currently associated with the agency?
  • Is the existing source URL still correct?
  • Is the agency planning to replace an existing harvest source?
  • Is the agency planning to add a new DCAT-US 3 harvest source while temporarily maintaining an existing source?
  • Is the agency planning to update an existing source in place?
  • Should the current source be retired after transition?
  • Does the agency need to transition datasets or metadata records from DCAT-US 1.1 to DCAT-US 3?
  • Who is the agency point of contact for the harvest source request?

Validate Proposed or Updated Harvest Sources

Harvest Source Validation Tool

Resource:
https://harvest.data.gov/validate/

Agencies can use the Harvest Source Validation Tool to check whether their proposed or updated harvest source is expected to pass validation.

This tool can be used before submitting a request for a new DCAT-US 3 harvest source or before requesting a change to an existing harvest source.


Why Agencies Should Validate

Using the validation tool can help agencies identify and resolve metadata issues earlier in the process, before a request is submitted through the Harvest Source Change Request Form.

Agencies may use the validation tool to:

  • Test whether a proposed harvest source passes validation
  • Identify metadata errors or warnings
  • Confirm that a DCAT-US 3 harvest source is structured correctly
  • Resolve validation issues before requesting that Data.gov add or update the harvest source
  • Reduce back-and-forth during the harvest source review process

If the harvest source does not pass validation, agencies should review and correct the identified issues before submitting a new or updated harvest source request, where possible.


Suggested Validation Checks

When validating a proposed or updated harvest source, agencies should confirm that:

  • The source URL is correct.
  • The source URL is accessible.
  • The metadata file is available at the submitted URL.
  • The metadata file follows the expected DCAT-US 3 structure.
  • Required fields are present.
  • Metadata values use expected formats.
  • Controlled values, where applicable, are used correctly.
  • Dataset and distribution information is current.
  • Validation errors or warnings have been reviewed.
  • Any known issues are documented for follow-up.

If the Harvest Source Passes Validation

If the proposed or updated harvest source passes validation, agencies may proceed with submitting a harvest source change request, if needed.

Harvest Source Change Request Form:
https://touchpoints.app.cloud.gov/touchpoints/ffb7e9d0

Before submitting the form, agencies should also confirm:

  • The source URL is final and correct.
  • The agency point of contact is identified.
  • The request type is clear.
  • The agency knows whether it is requesting a new harvest source or a change to an existing harvest source.
  • Any transition considerations have been identified.

If the Harvest Source Does Not Pass Validation

If the proposed or updated harvest source does not pass validation, agencies should review the validation results and correct issues where possible before submitting a harvest source change request.

Agencies may need to:

  • Correct missing required fields
  • Correct invalid values or formats
  • Review field structure
  • Review dataset or distribution metadata
  • Update the metadata file at the source URL
  • Re-run validation after making corrections
  • Document any known issues that may require follow-up

If the agency needs help interpreting validation results, the agency may bring the question to DCAT Interagency Q&A Office Hours.

Meeting schedule updates are posted at:

https://resources.data.gov/resources/dcat-us-3-updates/


Recommended Review and Validation Workflow

Agencies should use the following workflow before submitting a harvest source change request.

Step 1: Review DCAT-US 3 Implementation Guidance

Review the DCAT-US 3 Implementation Guide:

https://resources.data.gov/resources/dcat-us-3-implementation/

Agencies may also review:


Step 2: Create or Update the DCAT-US 3 Metadata File

Create or update the metadata file using the agency’s selected process or tool.

This may include:

  • Inventory.data.gov
  • An agency-managed metadata system
  • An agency data inventory platform
  • A catalog or publishing system
  • Another internal metadata process

If access to Inventory.data.gov is needed, agencies can request access here:

https://touchpoints.app.cloud.gov/touchpoints/9145dd7e

Once an Inventory.data.gov account is established, agencies must re-submit the same form once per quarter to maintain access.


Step 3: Review Current Harvest Sources

Review current agency harvest sources at:

https://harvest.data.gov

Use this step to confirm existing harvest source information and determine whether the agency needs to request:

  • A new DCAT-US 3 harvest source
  • A change to an existing harvest source
  • Replacement or retirement of a current source
  • Transition from DCAT-US 1.1 to DCAT-US 3

Step 4: Validate the Proposed or Updated Harvest Source

Validate the proposed or updated harvest source at:

https://harvest.data.gov/validate/

Review the validation results and resolve errors or warnings where possible.


Step 5: Submit a Harvest Source Change Request

If a new harvest source or change to an existing harvest source is needed, submit the Harvest Source Change Request Form:

https://touchpoints.app.cloud.gov/touchpoints/ffb7e9d0


Pre-Submission Checklist

Before submitting a harvest source change request, agencies should complete the following checklist.

  • Reviewed the DCAT-US 3 Implementation Guide.
  • Reviewed the DCAT-US 3 to M-25-05 Crosswalk, if applicable.
  • Checked the DCAT-US 3 Technical Implementation FAQs.
  • Created or updated the DCAT-US 3 compliant metadata file.
  • Reviewed current harvest sources at https://harvest.data.gov.
  • Confirmed whether the request is for a new harvest source or a change to an existing harvest source.
  • Confirmed whether an existing source should be updated, replaced, or retired.
  • Validated the proposed or updated source at https://harvest.data.gov/validate/.
  • Reviewed validation results.
  • Addressed validation errors or warnings where possible.
  • Confirmed the source URL.
  • Identified the agency point of contact for follow-up.
  • Submitted the Harvest Source Change Request Form, if needed.

Review and Validation FAQs

Where can agencies view current harvest sources?

Agencies can view current harvest sources at:

https://harvest.data.gov


Where can agencies validate a proposed or updated harvest source?

Agencies can validate a proposed or updated harvest source at:

https://harvest.data.gov/validate/


Should agencies validate before submitting a harvest source change request?

Yes. Agencies should validate the proposed or updated harvest source before submitting a request. This helps identify issues earlier and can reduce back-and-forth during the review process.


What should agencies do if validation fails?

Agencies should review the validation results, correct issues where possible, update the metadata file, and re-run validation.

If the agency needs help interpreting validation results, the agency may bring the question to DCAT Interagency Q&A Office Hours.


Can agencies submit a harvest source change request if validation issues remain?

Agencies should resolve validation issues before submitting a harvest source change request where possible. If issues remain, agencies should document the known issues and be prepared to discuss them with the Data.gov team.


Where should agencies submit a harvest source change request?

Agencies should submit harvest source change requests using the Harvest Source Change Request Form:

https://touchpoints.app.cloud.gov/touchpoints/ffb7e9d0


Related Resources

DCAT-US 3 Implementation Guide

https://resources.data.gov/resources/dcat-us-3-implementation/

Primary reference for agencies implementing the DCAT-US 3 metadata standard.


DCAT-US 3 to M-25-05 Crosswalk

https://resources.data.gov/resources/dcat-us-3-crosswalk/

Reference for understanding how DCAT-US 3 metadata elements relate to M-25-05-related considerations.


DCAT-US 3 Technical Implementation FAQs

https://github.com/GSA/dcat-us/wiki/DCAT-US-3-Technical-Implementation-FAQ

Frequently asked questions related to technical implementation of the DCAT-US 3 metadata standard are posted here as they are developed.


Current Harvest Sources

https://harvest.data.gov

Use this site to view current agency harvest sources.


Harvest Source Validation Tool

https://harvest.data.gov/validate/

Use this tool to test whether a proposed or updated harvest source is expected to pass validation.


Harvest Source Change Request Form

https://touchpoints.app.cloud.gov/touchpoints/ffb7e9d0

Use this form to request a new DCAT-US 3 harvest source or a change to an existing harvest source.


Inventory.data.gov Access Request Form

https://touchpoints.app.cloud.gov/touchpoints/9145dd7e

Use this form to request or renew access to Inventory.data.gov. Once an account is established, this same form must be re-submitted once per quarter to maintain access.


DCAT-US 3 Updates

https://resources.data.gov/resources/dcat-us-3-updates/

Use this page for meeting schedule updates and related DCAT-US 3 engagement information.


Related Wiki Pages

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