diff --git a/crc/api.yml b/crc/api.yml
index 980c4f23..f426c536 100644
--- a/crc/api.yml
+++ b/crc/api.yml
@@ -538,6 +538,67 @@ paths:
                 format: binary
                 example: '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><bpmn:definitions></bpmn:definitions>'
   # /v1.0/workflow/0
+  /reference_file:
+    get:
+      operationId: crc.api.file.get_reference_files
+      summary: Provides a list of existing reference files that are available in the system.
+      tags:
+        - Files
+      responses:
+        '200':
+          description: An array of file descriptions (not the file content)
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                type: array
+                items:
+                  $ref: "#/components/schemas/File"
+  /reference_file/{name}:
+    parameters:
+      - name: name
+        in: path
+        required: true
+        description: The special name of the reference file.
+        schema:
+          type: string
+    get:
+      operationId: crc.api.file.get_reference_file
+      summary: Reference files are called by name rather than by id.
+      tags:
+        - Files
+      responses:
+        '200':
+          description: Returns the actual file
+          content:
+            application/octet-stream:
+              schema:
+                type: string
+                format: binary
+                example: '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><bpmn:definitions></bpmn:definitions>'
+    put:
+      operationId: crc.api.file.set_reference_file
+      summary: Update the contents of a named reference file.
+      tags:
+        - Files
+      requestBody:
+        content:
+          multipart/form-data:
+            schema:
+              type: object
+              properties:
+                file:
+                  type: string
+                  format: binary
+      responses:
+        '200':
+          description: Returns the actual file
+          content:
+            application/octet-stream:
+              schema:
+                type: string
+                format: binary
+                example: '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><bpmn:definitions></bpmn:definitions>'
+  # /v1.0/workflow/0
   /workflow/{workflow_id}:
     parameters:
         - name: workflow_id
diff --git a/crc/api/file.py b/crc/api/file.py
index 5e4b7c48..ee2a2a82 100644
--- a/crc/api/file.py
+++ b/crc/api/file.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import enum
 import io
 import os
 from datetime import datetime
@@ -21,6 +22,10 @@ def get_files(workflow_spec_id=None, study_id=None, workflow_id=None, task_id=No
     results = FileService.get_files(workflow_spec_id, study_id, workflow_id, task_id, form_field_key)
     return FileModelSchema(many=True).dump(results)
 
+def get_reference_files():
+    results = FileService.get_files(is_reference=True)
+    return FileModelSchema(many=True).dump(results)
+
 
 def add_file(workflow_spec_id=None, study_id=None, workflow_id=None, task_id=None, form_field_key=None):
     all_none = all(v is None for v in [workflow_spec_id, study_id, workflow_id, task_id, form_field_key])
@@ -43,6 +48,42 @@ def add_file(workflow_spec_id=None, study_id=None, workflow_id=None, task_id=Non
     return FileModelSchema().dump(file_model)
 
 
+def get_reference_file(name):
+    file_data = FileService.get_reference_file_data(name)
+    return send_file(
+        io.BytesIO(file_data.data),
+        attachment_filename=file_data.file_model.name,
+        mimetype=file_data.file_model.content_type,
+        cache_timeout=-1  # Don't cache these files on the browser.
+    )
+
+
+def set_reference_file(name):
+    """Uses the file service to manage reference-files. They will be used in script tasks to compute values."""
+    if 'file' not in connexion.request.files:
+        raise ApiError('invalid_file',
+                       'Expected a file named "file" in the multipart form request', status_code=400)
+
+    file = connexion.request.files['file']
+
+    name_extension = FileService.get_extension(name)
+    file_extension = FileService.get_extension(file.filename)
+    if name_extension != file_extension:
+        raise ApiError('invalid_file_type',
+                       "The file you uploaded has an extension '%s', but it should have an extension of '%s' " %
+                       (file_extension, name_extension))
+
+
+    file_models = FileService.get_files(name=name, is_reference=True)
+    if len(file_models) == 0:
+        file_model = FileService.add_reference_file(name, file.content_type, file.stream.read())
+    else:
+        file_model = file_models[0]
+        FileService.update_file(file_models[0], file.stream.read(), file.content_type)
+
+    return FileModelSchema().dump(file_model)
+
+
 def update_file_data(file_id):
     file_model = session.query(FileModel).filter_by(id=file_id).with_for_update().first()
     file = connexion.request.files['file']
diff --git a/crc/models/api_models.py b/crc/models/api_models.py
index 6c4c7b2d..aa8fd0fe 100644
--- a/crc/models/api_models.py
+++ b/crc/models/api_models.py
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ class WorkflowApi(object):
         self.is_latest_spec = is_latest_spec
         self.is_active = is_active
 
+
 class WorkflowApiSchema(ma.Schema):
     class Meta:
         model = WorkflowApi
diff --git a/crc/models/file.py b/crc/models/file.py
index a98ca68e..77e895a6 100644
--- a/crc/models/file.py
+++ b/crc/models/file.py
@@ -66,6 +66,12 @@ class FileDataModel(db.Model):
 
 
 class FileModel(db.Model):
+    """A file model defines one of the following increasingly specific types:
+    * A Reference file.  Which just has a name and a reference flag set to true. These are global, and available everywhere.
+    * A Workflow Specification (such as BPMN or DMN model or a template)
+    * A Script generated file in a workflow. Which is specific to a study, workflow and task.
+    * An Uploaded file in a workflow. specific to a study, workflow, task, AND a field value.
+    """
     __tablename__ = 'file'
     id = db.Column(db.Integer, primary_key=True)
     name = db.Column(db.String)
@@ -73,6 +79,8 @@ class FileModel(db.Model):
     primary = db.Column(db.Boolean)
     is_status = db.Column(db.Boolean)
     content_type = db.Column(db.String)
+    is_reference = db.Column(db.Boolean, nullable=False, default=False) # A global reference file.
+    primary = db.Column(db.Boolean) # Is this the primary BPMN in a workflow?
     workflow_spec_id = db.Column(db.String, db.ForeignKey('workflow_spec.id'), nullable=True)
     workflow_id = db.Column(db.Integer, db.ForeignKey('workflow.id'), nullable=True)
     study_id = db.Column(db.Integer, db.ForeignKey('study.id'), nullable=True)
diff --git a/crc/services/file_service.py b/crc/services/file_service.py
index aa0182d1..3042c12e 100644
--- a/crc/services/file_service.py
+++ b/crc/services/file_service.py
@@ -1,14 +1,13 @@
+import hashlib
 import os
-from datetime import datetime
 from uuid import UUID
 from xml.etree import ElementTree
 
 from crc import session
-from crc.api.common import ApiErrorSchema, ApiError
-from crc.models.file import FileType, FileDataModel, FileModelSchema, FileModel, CONTENT_TYPES
+from crc.api.common import ApiError
+from crc.models.file import FileType, FileDataModel, FileModel
 from crc.models.workflow import WorkflowSpecModel
 from crc.services.workflow_processor import WorkflowProcessor
-import hashlib
 
 
 class FileService(object):
@@ -55,25 +54,39 @@ class FileService(object):
         )
         return FileService.update_file(file_model, binary_data, content_type)
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def add_reference_file(name, content_type, binary_data):
+        """Create a file with the given name, but not associated with a spec or workflow.
+           Only one file with the given reference name can exist."""
+        file_model = FileModel(
+            name=name,
+            is_reference=True
+        )
+        return FileService.update_file(file_model, binary_data, content_type)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_extension(file_name):
+        basename, file_extension = os.path.splitext(file_name)
+        return file_extension.lower().strip()[1:]
+
     @staticmethod
     def update_file(file_model, binary_data, content_type):
 
-        file_data_model = session.query(FileDataModel).\
+        file_data_model = session.query(FileDataModel). \
             filter_by(file_model_id=file_model.id,
                       version=file_model.latest_version
                       ).with_for_update().first()
         md5_checksum = UUID(hashlib.md5(binary_data).hexdigest())
-        if(file_data_model is not None and md5_checksum == file_data_model.md5_hash):
+        if (file_data_model is not None and md5_checksum == file_data_model.md5_hash):
             # This file does not need to be updated, it's the same file.
             return file_model
 
         # Verify the extension
-        basename, file_extension = os.path.splitext(file_model.name)
-        file_extension = file_extension.lower().strip()[1:]
+        file_extension = FileService.get_extension(file_model.name)
         if file_extension not in FileType._member_names_:
-            return ApiErrorSchema().dump(ApiError('unknown_extension',
-                                                  'The file you provided does not have an accepted extension:' +
-                                                  file_extension)), 404
+            raise ApiError('unknown_extension',
+                           'The file you provided does not have an accepted extension:' +
+                           file_extension, status_code=404)
         else:
             file_model.type = FileType[file_extension]
             file_model.content_type = content_type
@@ -93,8 +106,10 @@ class FileService(object):
         return file_model
 
     @staticmethod
-    def get_files(workflow_spec_id=None, study_id=None, workflow_id=None, task_id=None, form_field_key=None):
-        query = session.query(FileModel)
+    def get_files(workflow_spec_id=None,
+                  study_id=None, workflow_id=None, task_id=None, form_field_key=None,
+                  name=None, is_reference=False):
+        query = session.query(FileModel).filter_by(is_reference=is_reference)
         if workflow_spec_id:
             query = query.filter_by(workflow_spec_id=workflow_spec_id)
         if study_id:
@@ -105,15 +120,28 @@ class FileService(object):
             query = query.filter_by(task_id=str(task_id))
         if form_field_key:
             query = query.filter_by(form_field_key=form_field_key)
+        if name:
+            query = query.filter_by(name=form_field_key)
 
         results = query.all()
         return results
 
     @staticmethod
-    def get_file_data(file_id):
-        """Returns the file_data that is associated with the file model id"""
-        file_model = session.query(FileModel).filter(FileModel.id == file_id).first()
-        return session.query(FileDataModel)\
-            .filter(FileDataModel.file_model_id == file_id)\
-            .filter(FileDataModel.version == file_model.latest_version)\
+    def get_file_data(file_id, file_model=None):
+        """Returns the file_data that is associated with the file model id, if an actual file_model
+        is provided, uses that rather than looking it up again."""
+        if file_model is None:
+            file_model = session.query(FileModel).filter(FileModel.id == file_id).first()
+        return session.query(FileDataModel) \
+            .filter(FileDataModel.file_model_id == file_id) \
+            .filter(FileDataModel.version == file_model.latest_version) \
             .first()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_reference_file_data(file_name):
+        file_model = session.query(FileModel). \
+            filter(FileModel.is_reference == True). \
+            filter(FileModel.name == file_name).first()
+        if not file_model:
+            raise ApiError("file_not_found", "There is no reference file with the name '%s'" % file_name)
+        return FileService.get_file_data(file_model.id, file_model)
diff --git a/migrations/versions/0c8a2f8db28c_.py b/migrations/versions/0c8a2f8db28c_.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6a172260
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/versions/0c8a2f8db28c_.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"""empty message
+
+Revision ID: 0c8a2f8db28c
+Revises: 8856126b6658
+Create Date: 2020-03-13 14:05:46.983484
+
+"""
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = '0c8a2f8db28c'
+down_revision = '8856126b6658'
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.add_column('file', sa.Column('is_reference', sa.Boolean(), nullable=False))
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.drop_column('file', 'is_reference')
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
diff --git a/tests/data/reference/irb_documents.xlsx b/tests/data/reference/irb_documents.xlsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..21ecc9da
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/data/reference/irb_documents.xlsx differ
diff --git a/tests/test_files_api.py b/tests/test_files_api.py
index 57dd1dff..e666ea1b 100644
--- a/tests/test_files_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_files_api.py
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import io
 import json
-from datetime import datetime
 
 from crc import session
-from crc.models.file import FileModel, FileType, FileModelSchema, FileDataModel
+from crc.models.file import FileModel, FileType, FileModelSchema
 from crc.models.workflow import WorkflowSpecModel
 from tests.base_test import BaseTest
 
@@ -58,6 +57,52 @@ class TestFilesApi(BaseTest):
         file2 = FileModelSchema().load(json_data, session=session)
         self.assertEqual(file, file2)
 
+    def test_set_reference_file(self):
+        file_name = "irb_document_types.xls"
+        data = {'file': (io.BytesIO(b"abcdef"), "does_not_matter.xls")}
+        rv = self.app.put('/v1.0/reference_file/%s' % file_name, data=data, follow_redirects=True,
+                          content_type='multipart/form-data')
+        self.assert_success(rv)
+        self.assertIsNotNone(rv.get_data())
+        json_data = json.loads(rv.get_data(as_text=True))
+        file = FileModelSchema().load(json_data, session=session)
+        self.assertEqual(FileType.xls, file.type)
+        self.assertTrue(file.is_reference)
+        self.assertEqual("application/vnd.ms-excel", file.content_type)
+
+    def test_set_reference_file_bad_extension(self):
+        file_name = "irb_document_types.xls"
+        data = {'file': (io.BytesIO(b"abcdef"), "does_not_matter.ppt")}
+        rv = self.app.put('/v1.0/reference_file/%s' % file_name, data=data, follow_redirects=True,
+                          content_type='multipart/form-data')
+        self.assert_failure(rv, error_code="invalid_file_type")
+
+    def test_get_reference_file(self):
+        file_name = "irb_document_types.xls"
+        data = {'file': (io.BytesIO(b"abcdef"), "some crazy thing do not care.xls")}
+        rv = self.app.put('/v1.0/reference_file/%s' % file_name, data=data, follow_redirects=True,
+                          content_type='multipart/form-data')
+        rv = self.app.get('/v1.0/reference_file/%s' % file_name)
+        self.assert_success(rv)
+        data_out = rv.get_data()
+        self.assertEqual(b"abcdef", data_out)
+
+    def test_list_reference_files(self):
+        file_name = "irb_document_types.xls"
+        data = {'file': (io.BytesIO(b"abcdef"), file_name)}
+        rv = self.app.put('/v1.0/reference_file/%s' % file_name, data=data, follow_redirects=True,
+                          content_type='multipart/form-data')
+
+        rv = self.app.get('/v1.0/reference_file',
+                          follow_redirects=True,
+                          content_type="application/json")
+        self.assert_success(rv)
+        json_data = json.loads(rv.get_data(as_text=True))
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(json_data))
+        file = FileModelSchema(many=True).load(json_data, session=session)
+        self.assertEqual(file_name, file[0].name)
+        self.assertTrue(file[0].is_reference)
+
     def test_update_file_info(self):
         self.load_example_data()
         file: FileModel = session.query(FileModel).first()
@@ -118,7 +163,6 @@ class TestFilesApi(BaseTest):
         file = FileModelSchema().load(json_data, session=session)
         self.assertEqual(1, file.latest_version)
 
-
     def test_get_file(self):
         self.load_example_data()
         spec = session.query(WorkflowSpecModel).first()
@@ -137,3 +181,4 @@ class TestFilesApi(BaseTest):
         rv = self.app.delete('/v1.0/file/%i' % file.id)
         rv = self.app.get('/v1.0/file/%i' % file.id)
         self.assertEqual(404, rv.status_code)
+