home > digital communications > policies & standards > terms of service agreements > negotiating a terms of service agreement federal-compatible terms of service (tos) agreements are special agreements negotiated between the federal government and many vendors who offer social media, mobile, business and other digital tools. a federal-compatible tos is required for official government use of social media tools that are offered to the agency at no cost. program staff are typically the first to identify innovative third-party tools that may not have an established tos amendment for use by the federal government. there are many reasons why a vendor may be resistant to developing a federal friendly tos (lack of time, priority, legal support, understanding/ familiarity, interest, money, etc.). federal agencies wishing to work with vendors should be prepared to explain the background, importance, and benefits of a federal-friendly terms of service amendment to companies that are unfamiliar with doing business with the federal government after explaining the benefits of adopting a federal-friendly tos amendment, agencies will want to reassure vendors that the process can be simple and speedy.