Quote:
Originally Posted by Oblarg
How is developing ties with a machine shop that offers to donate machining time ostensibly more consistent with the mission of FIRST than, say, developing ties with a tech company that offers to pay for said machining?
Why should one of these allow you to have a robot whose true cost is not reflected in the stated budget, but not the other?
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i have to agree with Cory on this one. We are not talking about the mission of FIRST We are speaking about the rules. If I had a mentor that offered to purchase something for me.... or a sponsor.... that does not diminish the cost of the item for the BOM, donated items must still be accounted for even if the donor gives them to you freely (unless they are in the KOP,etc)
With this argument, a team could list McMaster Carr as a sponsor and not have to list any of the items they purchase from them on the BOM. This is not the intent of the rules for BOM.
I believe the rule as stated just indicates that "DONATED" labor does not have to included.... If you are paying for the labor (or machine time or whatever it is described as..) it is not donated.... so that cost should be included.
We have great relationships with a number of industrial companies, some of which are SPONSORS for us and some are just sources of mentors or demos or field trips. If I purchased something from them I would have to put it in the BOM. (with the caveat of the KOP, etc).
Our team cut parts for well over 10 teams last year and wlll continue to do this for any team that needs the help. I don't think that (with only one exception) any of them asked us for our machine time cost estimates or considered us a sponsor. I am NOT asking to be a sponsor, but I do wonder how many teams really understand this rule.