WITH HOLDING

[FrankJ]

Originally Posted by ToddF

...The rules make no such distinction.

Yes that is why I call it a small violation. Falls under the intention of the rule rather than lawyering the letter of the rule. I can see the logic of both ways.

...We wouldn't need to wait for future years if someone would submit a question to QA. (I can't do this myself.)

Best not to ask questions to the GDC you really don't want an answer to. Q&A would only apply to this years game anyway. It is a mute question for my team. The only gear box it would apply to for us is a nano tuffbox that comes assembled.

...If I ordered a heathkit shortwave radio, and assembled it per the manufacturers instructions,

They still make those? I guess it would be a custom circuit. You are showing your age.

[excel2474]

Originally Posted by ToddF

Of course not. You purchased a gearbox. (COTS) You purchased grease. (COTS) You expended time and effort to assemble the grease to the gearbox. That makes it a non-COTS assembly.

What is the definition of a "non-COTS assembly" according the the 2015 game manual. I don't see it in there.

[Michael Hill]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

They still make those? I guess it would be a custom circuit. You are showing your age.

You should see my bench...I have a couple of HP power supplies...yes HP, not Agilent....er...Keysight. Also, having a scope older than I am should be worth something.

[ToddF]

Originally Posted by excel2474

What is the definition of a "non-COTS assembly" according the the 2015 game manual. I don't see it in there.

You are correct. However, the definition of COTS is quite clearly defined. I think we may reasonable infer that a "non-COTS assembly" is an assembly which doesn't qualify as COTS.

Section 4.1: "Many rules in this section reference Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) items. A COTS item must be a standard (i.e. not custom order) part commonly available from a VENDOR for all Teams for purchase. To be a COTS item, the COMPONENT or MECHANISM must be in an unaltered, unmodified state."

The key words in the definition being UNALTERED and UNMODIFIED.

From the Glossary: "COTS – a “Commercial, Off-The-Shelf” COMPONENT or MECHANISM, in its unaltered, unmodified state. A COTS item must be a standard (i.e. not custom order) part commonly available from the VENDOR, available from a non-Team source, and available to all Teams for purchase. Items that are no longer commercially available but are functionally equivalent to the original condition as delivered from the VENDOR are considered COTS and may be used."

[FrankJ]

Originally Posted by excel2474

What is the definition of a "non-COTS assembly" according the the 2015 game manual. I don't see it in there.

Probably a better wording would be "fabricated" assembly. When you put to COTs items together or modify a COTs item (assembly), they become "fabricated" rather than COTs

Applying simple logic: anything that does not meet the definition of "COTS" is "NON-COTS"

[excel2474]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

Probably a better wording would be "fabricated" assembly. When you put to COTs items together or modify a COTs item (assembly), they become "fabricated" rather than COTs

I agree that it could fall under the category of "Fabricated". However, I'm still stuck on the fact that if I buy items "A" and "B" separately and put them together myself, it's called "Fabricated", but if I purchased the exact same 2 items pre-assembled it would be "COTs". That doesn't seem like the intent of the rule.