{
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    "title" : "Federal-Compatible Terms of Service Agreements |Digital.gov",
    "description": "Federal-Compatible Terms of Service Agreements",
    "home_page_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/","feed_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/resources/federal-compatible-terms-of-service-agreements/index.json","item" : [
    {"title" :"Federal-Compatible Terms of Service Agreements","deck" : "A guide to the agreements negotiated between the federal government and vendors who offer digital tools and services.","summary" : "Agreements negotiated between the federal government and vendors who offer digital tools and services.","date" : "2014-01-09T02:40:58-04:00","date_modified" : "2025-01-27T19:42:55-05:00","topics" : {
        
            "terms-of-service" : "Terms of service"
            },"branch" : "bc-archive-content-3",
      "filename" :"federal-compatible-terms-of-service-agreements.md",
      
      "filepath" :"resources/federal-compatible-terms-of-service-agreements.md",
      "filepathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/blob/bc-archive-content-3/content/resources/federal-compatible-terms-of-service-agreements.md",
      "editpathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/edit/bc-archive-content-3/content/resources/federal-compatible-terms-of-service-agreements.md","url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/resources/federal-compatible-terms-of-service-agreements/","aliases" : {"0" : "/resources/agency-points-of-contact-for-federal-compatible-terms-of-service-agreements/","1" : "/resources/antideficiency-act-implications-of-rtain-online-terms-of-service-agreements/"},"weight" : "1","content" :"\n\n\n\n  \n\u003carticle\n  class=\"dg-note dg-note--alert\"\n\u003e\n  \u003ch4 class=\"dg-note__heading\"\u003e\n    \u003csvg\n      class=\"dg-note__icon usa-icon dg-icon dg-icon--large\"\n      aria-hidden=\"true\"\n      focusable=\"false\"\n    \u003e\n      \u003cuse xlink:href=\"/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/uswds/img/sprite.svg#report\"\u003e\u003c/use\u003e\n    \u003c/svg\u003e\n    \n      \n        Alert\n      \n    \n  \u003c/h4\u003e\n  \u003cstrong\u003eThe Terms of Service (TOS) program\u003c/strong\u003e at the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is no longer active. It applied to no-cost tools only. While the items included below may still be active, Digital.gov is not able to add new agreements to the list.\n\u003c/article\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"box \"\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelated pages\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/resources/negotiated-terms-of-service-agreements/\"\u003eNegotiated Terms of Service Agreements\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"why-tos-is-important\"\u003eWhy TOS is Important\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDigital media is key to helping federal agencies engage with their customers and accomplish their mission. However, the standard Terms of Service (or Terms of Use) for most free digital products and services are incompatible with federal law, regulation, or practice.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo meet this need, a coalition of federal agencies, led by GSA, works with a broad range of providers of no-cost social and digital media products to develop amended, federally compatible TOS agreements. GSA leads this effort to reduce the need for dozens of agencies to negotiate TOS agreements and to streamline negotiations with vendors through a single point of contact.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile these TOS amendments resolve the major legal issues of the sign-up process, agencies must still comply with laws and regulations on security, privacy, accessibility, records retention, ethical use, and other specific agency policies and requirements when using the tools.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"how-does-mobile-fit\"\u003eHow Does Mobile Fit?\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgencies who develop native applications for specific devices need to sign Terms of Service Agreements with the mobile product companies. These Terms of Service have two parts: a developer agreement and a distribution agreement. The developer agreement allows the agency to access that platform’s software and tools to develop applications. Once the application is completed, the distribution agreement allows agencies to offer their completed application to customers for free.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFederal friendly Terms of Service for distribution agreements have been negotiated with Amazon Appstore and BlackBerry App World. Please contact your agency\u0026rsquo;s TOS point of contact or \u003ca href=\"mailto:socialmediaapps@gsa.gov\"\u003esocialmediaapps@gsa.gov\u003c/a\u003e with questions about Apple and Google Play.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"how-to-implement\"\u003eHow to Implement\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’re a federal employee, follow these steps (or \u003ca href=\"\n\n  https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/_legacy-img/2015/02/DigitalGov-TOS-flowchart_v6-Feb-2-2015.pdf \"\u003edownload our easy step-by-step flowchart\u003c/a\u003e [PDF, 361 KB, 1 page, February 2015 ]) before setting up an account to use a free digital media tool:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview existing policy\u003c/strong\u003e: Review your agency’s social media policy and guidance to be sure you understand requirements to use specific tools, branding, etc.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSee what’s available\u003c/strong\u003e: Consult the list of free products and services with federal TOS agreements. Keep in mind that even though a tool may be on the list, your agency may not have approved the TOS for that tool. Each agency considers its own policies, needs, expectations and practices, and conducts a legal review, before signing agreements. Among other sources, your agency counsel may want to review the \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/memoranda/2013/m-13-10.pdf\"\u003eOMB Memorandum M–13–10\u003c/a\u003e (PDF, 1.2 MB, 17 pages, April 2013) regarding implications of certain online Terms of Service agreements.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWork with your agency point of contact\u003c/strong\u003e: Before you decide to use a tool, work with your agency’s Point-of-Contact for social media tools and your general counsel for other tools and services. This person will discuss your social media requirements and explain what already exists to meet your needs, including any TOS agreements that have been signed by your agency. This is also the person who works with your agency’s attorneys to determine if any new Terms of Service agreements are needed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIf approved, create an account\u003c/strong\u003e: If your agency point of contact approves and your agency has a signed TOS for that tool, you can work with your agency point of contact to set up your new account.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgencies should note that because these products and services are free and don’t involve agency appropriated funds, the agreements are not considered to be government contracts nor are they procurements under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). In contrast, fee–based products fall under all federal procurement rules and regulations, and are not included in this process.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"for-federal-agency-points-of-contact\"\u003eFor Federal Agency Points of Contact\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’re an agency point of contact, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/memoranda/2013/m-13-10.pdf\"\u003eOMB Memorandum M–13–10\u003c/a\u003e (PDF, 1.2 MB, 17 pages, April 2013) outlines the following steps that agencies should follow:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConduct an inventory of social media applications currently in use at your agency.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublish your social media inventory with corresponding TOS at “agency.gov/socialmediaTOS”.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf your agency identifies a TOS that includes an open-ended indemnification clause, work with your legal team to renegotiate the TOS.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvide an update to \u003ca href=\"mailto:digitalgov@gsa.gov\"\u003eDigitalGov\u003c/a\u003e regarding any TOS your agency is negotiating. Coordinating with GSA ensures we are not duplicating efforts.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor guidance on managing your TOS agreements and vendor contact information, visit the \u003ca href=\"https://login.max.gov/cas/login?service=https%3A%2F%2Fmax.omb.gov%2Fcommunity%2Flogin.action%3Fos_destination%3D%252Fpages%252Fviewpage.action%253FpageId%253D610147341\"\u003eTerms of Service Information for points of contact on the MAX wiki\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"for-state-and-local-governments\"\u003eFor State and Local Governments\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) and the National Association of Attorneys General have collaborated in Terms of Service negotiations with tool and service providers on behalf of state governments.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey negotiated revised terms with Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFacebook made changes to their \u003ca href=\"http://www.facebook.com/terms_pages_gov.php\"\u003estandard terms that apply to state and local governments\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwitter \u003ca href=\"http://twitter.com/tos\"\u003eincorporated revisions in Section 12B\u003c/a\u003e of their most recent general TOS update.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"http://www.nascio.org/newsroom/pressRelease.cfm?id=119\"\u003eYouTube terms are available to state government agencies that\u003c/a\u003e request them through their State CIOs.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNegotiations with other providers are ongoing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"for-tool-and-service-providers\"\u003eFor Tool and Service Providers\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGSA welcomes expressions of interest from providers who want to offer, for the federal government’s consideration, products that are free of charge. GSA developed a \u003ca href=\"\n\n  https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/_legacy-img/2014/01/model-amendment-to-tos-for-g.doc\"\u003emodel TOS template\u003c/a\u003e (Word document, 55 KB, 5 pages, October 2011) listing the points, issues, and concerns that typically arise in standard Terms of Service and are problematic for federal agencies. This model agreement suggests replacements that would be acceptable to most federal agencies.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you are such a provider, see the guidance about how to express interest in offering an amended TOS or updating a current one.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTool and service providers interested in engaging in Terms of Service discussions with NASCIO, should \u003ca href=\"http://www.nascio.org/advocacy/current/NASCIO-SM-Legal-WG-Open-Letter-to-Providers-Final.pdf\"\u003ereview its open letter to providers\u003c/a\u003e for background and contact information.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"additional-resources\"\u003eAdditional Resources\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFind your agency\u0026rsquo;s Terms of Service Point of Contact\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eView the list of negotiated \u003ca href=\"\n  /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/resources/negotiated-terms-of-service-agreements/\"\u003eTerms of Service agreements\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUse the \u003ca href=\"\n\n  https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/_legacy-img/2014/01/model-amendment-to-tos-for-g.doc\"\u003emodel TOS template\u003c/a\u003e (Word document, 55 KB, 5 pages, October 2011)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuidance \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/memoranda/2013/m-13-10.pdf\"\u003eOMB Memorandum M-13-10\u003c/a\u003e (PDF, 1.2 MB, 17 pages, April 2013) on Antideficiency Act Implications of Certain Online Terms of Service Agreements\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n"}
  ]
}