Banebot transmission no longer COTS?

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

According to the manual, such delays are excused and they are still legal parts.

Delays are excused: "Such delays due to higher-than-normal order rates are excused." Unavailability is not: "The VENDOR makes their products available to all FIRST Robotics Competition teams. VENDORS must not limit supply or make a product available to just a limited number of FIRST Robotics Competition teams." This is a permanent unavailability, not a delay.

I will not claim to be a materials-utilization-rules expert, but as I read this, the 256:1 gearbox which is no longer available now cannot be considered a COTS item, and wouldn't that mean that it is no longer legal for use by any team?