FRC Blog - Get Ready to Make FIRST Choices

[cgmv123]

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...-FIRST-Choices

Today’s blog post was written by Kate Pilotte, FIRST Robotics Competition’s Kit of Parts Manager.

I’ve challenged myself to write this blog in a way that it has all the information needed if you’re new (or need a refresher), but also so experts out there can just skim the bolded content and get the gist. Here goes…

We’re doing FIRST Choice again. If you already know what FIRST Choice is, you can skip this part. If you’re still reading, you’re a rookie team, want a refresher, or can’t resist reading something you were told you could skip.

I’ll start with a general introduction of what we mean when we talk about the “Kit of Parts” (KOP). The KOP is a term that’s evolved to mean “goods we obtain from companies on behalf of, and provide to, FRC Teams.” These items then get to you, our customers, via three different methods:

1. the Kickoff Kit: items that we pack in totes (mostly in totes, there are typically exceptions for late or big items) and distributed to Teams at local Kickoff sites. There are two permutations of this – one set of items that go to all Teams and a second container that goes to 1st year, aka “Rookie,” Teams
2. the Virtual Kit: items donated by Suppliers, but don’t actually come to FIRST for redistribution. Custom orders (like Bimba cylinders), software downloads, and Product Donation Vouchers all fit this category.
3. FIRST Choice: FIRST Choice consists of an online menu of items available to 2016 FRC Teams, and it’s hosted by our friends at AndyMark (for free!). Its purpose is to make available a variety of sweet goodies that Suppliers cannot provide in volumes to support all of the Kickoff Kits. Instead, Teams use a limited number of credits to pick and choose the items they prefer. Because of the limited inventory, we typically run out of popular items, but we’d rather make a variety of items in limited quantities available than none at all.

Priority Lists are back, and we’ll do two rounds (one before Kickoff and one after Kickoff). The Priority List process, illustrated in more detail here, is a little complex. Based on feedback from last year, we believe that what it lacks in simplicity, it makes up for in user experience and satisfaction. The Priority List is optional, and the deadline for Round 1 Priority Lists is noon (Eastern Time) on Sunday, December 6, 2015.

Each Priority List created by the deadline (one per Team), will be assigned a random rank. The order in which individual teams complete their Priority Lists before the deadline does not affect their rank. All teams that add at least one item to their Priority List by the deadline are put in a common pool and then randomly sequenced. This is what we mean by ‘random rank.’

Then, in rank order, AndyMark’s auto draft system will query the Team’s highest priority item and, provided the Team has the credits and FIRST Choice has the inventory, issue the item to the Team. This applies to each Priority List line item as ranked. If the team doesn't have enough Credits to cover the entire amount (but at least one) or FIRST Choice inventory doesn't have the entire quantity (but at least one), the team will get as many as their credits/FIRST Choice inventory allow. If credits or inventory can’t cover one, it will move on to the next ranked item so the team is not skipped for that round.

Once it gets to the last ranked Priority List, the draft system will query that last Priority List’s next item and work its way back up the ranks (for Teams that know how we’ve done Alliance Selection in the past, this serpentine process probably seems familiar). This draft continues until inventory’s gone or Priority Lists have been exhausted. Inventory will be updated for when FIRST Choice opens for traditional “first come, first served” live orders.

A few other notes about the process:

• Login information will be posted to each Team’s TIMS account. Only registered FRC Teams will see their login information in TIMS and thus only registered FRC Teams will be able to create a Priority List.
• Priority Lists will be created using the Priority List feature on AndyMark’s FIRST Choice site.
• Shipping charges will apply (details to be posted on FIRSTChoiceByAndyMark.com before Priority Lists are due), and unlike last year, a billing address, shipping address, and credit card information must be provided before creating your Priority List. For international Teams, additional charges may apply, for which the Team is responsible and AndyMark will address on a case by case basis.
• Priority Lists are saved each time the user clicks “Update,” letting teams add, subtract, and reprioritize items until the deadline.
• Upon the deadline, any existing Priority Lists will be locked, processed, and no additional changes may be made.
• We will not publicly publish Teams’ Priority Lists, the assigned rankings, or final order contents.
• Items will not ship until a Team has secured first event registration payment with FIRST (please allow at least one business day for this transaction to be processed and the status to be relayed to AndyMark).

So, the timeline for FIRST Choice is as follows (all events happen at noon, Eastern):

ROUND 1

• 11/19/15 Round 1 begins, FIRST Choice login information live in TIMS (for registered teams) and credit allotments live at FIRSTChoiceByAndyMark.com.
• 12/06/15 Round 1 Team Priority Lists due
• 12/08/15 AndyMark notifies each Team of their Round 1 draft results

Traditional Ordering

• 12/11/15 FIRST Choice opens for traditional live orders
• 01/08/16 FIRST Choice closes

ROUND 2

• 01/09/16 Round 2 begins, additional credits issued (unused credits do carry over).
• 01/16/16 Round 2 Team Priority Lists due
• 01/19/16 AndyMark notifies each Team of their Round 2 draft results

Traditional Ordering

• 01/22/16 FIRST Choice opens for traditional live orders
• 04/14/16 FIRST Choice closes for the 2016 season

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank AndyMark for their generosity and commitment to improving the FIRST Choice experience. They donate such a valuable service, and we’re so happy they’ve continued their support.

If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to ask in the comments below or post them to the FIRST Choice Forum.

[pabeekm]

A blog post! I guess I'll start reading into everything as though it were a very vague game hint....

....wait a second....

how we’ve done Alliance Selection in the past

[z_beeblebrox]

So when are the items available in FIRST Choice listed on AndyMark's site? November 19th?

[JB987]

November 19, Cyber Gods willing...

[sanddrag]

Round 2 is 10 days after kickoff? There must not be much of anything important left after round 1. 10 days in is pretty late. That's practically 1/4 of the build season.

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Round 2 is 10 days after kickoff? There must not be much of anything important left after round 1. 10 days in is pretty late. That's practically 1/4 of the build season.

Not a bad idea. First choice usually tapers off quickly in terms of highly useful items teams need during build season with the more valuable items going in the very early stages of Round 1. Then teams might be able to grab a few Round 2 items that might actually be useful once they get an idea of which direction they are going.

Might also allow Andymark to focus their first week on the initial rush of after kickoff orders for game specific items.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by BrendanB

Not a bad idea. First choice usually tapers off quickly in terms of highly useful items teams need during build season with the more valuable items going in the very early stages of Round 1. Then teams might be able to grab a few Round 2 items that might actually be useful once they get an idea of which direction they are going.

Might also allow Andymark to focus their first week on the initial rush of after kickoff orders for game specific items.

The counterpoint is it's harder to place your "real money" orders early in build season if you don't know what you're getting from FIRST choice. Also, the parts will show up later (obviously).

[Travis Hoffman]

FIRST Choice goes Fantasy Football.

[page2067]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

FIRST Choice goes Fantasy Football.

Not quite Draft Kings / Fan Duel though

Need to wait 2 weeks!

- we need more immediate gratification!?

[Foster]

Originally Posted by BrendanB

Not a bad idea. First choice usually tapers off quickly in terms of highly useful items teams need during build season with the more valuable items going in the very early stages of Round 1. Then teams might be able to grab a few Round 2 items that might actually be useful once they get an idea of which direction they are going.

Might also allow Andymark to focus their first week on the initial rush of after kickoff orders for game specific items.

Just a reminder, these are free items that AM is storing, cataloging, entering into the FirstChoice System, picking, packing and shipping. So it makes sense that this happens well before kickoff. And it makes sense to do it after the week one rush is done so AM can get their real jobs done.

The takeaway from this post is 1) this is again free stuff, not your birthright, not paid for by your entry fee. 2)AM is adding extra work to their busiest time of the year to help support FRC 3) You should be sending thank you notes to AM even if you get one item for doing this.

[zcohen]

Originally Posted by Foster

The takeaway from this post is 1) this is again free stuff, not your birthright, not paid for by your entry fee. 2)AM is adding extra work to their busiest time of the year to help support FRC 3) You should be sending thank you notes to AM even if you get one item for doing this.

1) Since when was this free? I spend $5000 to get this stuff. The kickoff kits used to be much larger, with many of the things we've seen in FIRST Choice in them for everyone. As teams grew though they couldn't get the supplies for everyone and they set up this system. Yeah it allows for some cool new stuff, but at the loss of quite a few items that we used to get, so I would never say its free.
2) Did Andymark ever say that they do this for nothing? Maybe they had and if thats the case kudos to them (ignoring the probably huge tax writeoff they can get for this). If not though, it doesnt make much economic sense for a company of Andymark's size to deal with FIRST Choice for free. I'd be surprised if there wasn't some sort of monetary support so that they at least get close to breaking even.

[mwmac]

Originally Posted by zcohen

1) Since when was this free? I spend $5000 to get this stuff. The kickoff kits used to be much larger, with many of the things we've seen in FIRST Choice in them for everyone. As teams grew though they couldn't get the supplies for everyone and they set up this system. Yeah it allows for some cool new stuff, but at the loss of quite a few items that we used to get, so I would never say its free.
2) Did Andymark ever say that they do this for nothing? Maybe they had and if thats the case kudos to them (ignoring the probably huge tax writeoff they can get for this). If not though, it doesnt make much economic sense for a company of Andymark's size to deal with FIRST Choice for free. I'd be surprised if there wasn't some sort of monetary support so that they at least get close to breaking even.

Just a thought, before pressing submit reply, read what you write and ask if your post conveys your true thoughts. Ingratitude plus speculative musings based upon no information does not reflect a positive image.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by zcohen

1) Since when was this free? I spend $5000 to get this stuff. The kickoff kits used to be much larger, with many of the things we've seen in FIRST Choice in them for everyone. As teams grew though they couldn't get the supplies for everyone and they set up this system. Yeah it allows for some cool new stuff, but at the loss of quite a few items that we used to get, so I would never say its free.

Okay, semantics. It's not free. But if you were to buy everything yourself, I'd bet you're getting close to a 75% discount overall.
Plus, I don't know about you, but our shelves are crammed with things we got in past KoPs that we never used (but might be useful later-?). Smaller KoPs with the freedom to choose among some of the more auxiliary parts help streamline our warehouse.

2) Did Andymark ever say that they do this for nothing? Maybe they had and if thats the case kudos to them (ignoring the probably huge tax writeoff they can get for this). If not though, it doesnt make much economic sense for a company of Andymark's size to deal with FIRST Choice for free. I'd be surprised if there wasn't some sort of monetary support so that they at least get close to breaking even.

The 'kickback' they get is that they get to say they are a Crown Supplier. This is a donation of their time, materials, manpower, website hosting and construction, and space. So, yes, kudos to them.

[Mark McLeod]

FIRST Choice - Update for 2015

FIRST Choice is hosted by our friends at AndyMark (for free!) and consists of an online menu of items available to 2015 FRC Teams.

AndyMark also contributes FTA's (a volunteer position, but they pay their employees to volunteer for FIRST) and other field support personnel for many events during the season. Andy and Mark really believe in and support the FIRST mission.
You can check their website for what everyone does.

[Foster]

Originally Posted by zcohen

1) Since when was this free? I spend $5000 to get this stuff. The kickoff kits used to be much larger, with many of the things we've seen in FIRST Choice in them for everyone. As teams grew though they couldn't get the supplies for everyone and they set up this system. Yeah it allows for some cool new stuff, but at the loss of quite a few items that we used to get, so I would never say its free.

Hi, you must be new here. it's a well known fact that your $5,000 donation goes directly to FIRST. All of the parts, all of the totes, all of the shipping to your kick off site is donated.

Oh, that regional you "paid for". Donations make that happen.

Time for you to search in the CD archives about FIRST financials.

Originally Posted by zcohen

2) Did Andymark ever say that they do this for nothing? Maybe they had and if thats the case kudos to them (ignoring the probably huge tax writeoff they can get for this). If not though, it doesnt make much economic sense for a company of Andymark's size to deal with FIRST Choice for free. I'd be surprised if there wasn't some sort of monetary support so that they at least get close to breaking even.

Andy Mark does amazing things to help roboteers. VEX does amazing things to help roboteers. While they meet bottom lines, the employees and owners put passion in front of profits. Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast made $32.9 million last year. If all the First FRC teams bough ALL their parts from AM, the gross would be less than half of what Brian made.

People do amazing things for stuff the have a passion for.

I salute the robotics suppliers, I think they are awesome people with bad business sense. I buy as much stuff from them as I can, just to keep them (parts, same day shipping, talk to an engineer on a call, phone answered on the weekend) around for another year.

You, on the other hand, should do some research before you post and look like an idiot.