As I interpret the rules, I would say that any item we use that we get free from FIRST choice still has a chargeable cost against the $3500, since
The definition of Kit of Parts says anything on the Kit of Parts checklist, and these are not on that checklist
Although they are available to all teams from this “Vendor” at the same discounted price ($0) per 4.3.5.C, they aren’t offered in sufficient quantity for all teams to get them within the build season per the definition of Vendor parts D & E.
There is no mention of FIRST choice in the rules (that I could find) that indicate it is part of the Kit of Parts or not chargeable.
That is based on the Manual being the final word; however, as I found out last year when I posed the question to the GDC in the Q&A I discovered that there are other “writings” with equivalent importance including Bill’s Blog (which is noted this year in section 2.6.4 of the communication section of the manual). Bill’s Blog from 11/15/2010 states that “FIRST Choice is an online extension of the traditional KoP”.
So - parts that we get for free through FIRST Choice - chargeable or free?
I’m hoping the manual is correct and Bill’s blog isn’t. Just for fairness and/or the sanity of inspectors. Do you really want to have to keep track of a different KoP for every team in FRC? Also, while it won’t matter in practice, it seems even more unfair than usual to let some teams have an extra $100+ for their robot because they got in early enough to get a free Jag.
Since charging these items against the $3500 is going to affect a rather small number of teams in practice, and keeping track of the additional “free” FIRSTChoice items for all teams at all regionals is going to be a huge headache, I think the former option is the sanest.
Inspectors don’t have any sanity. If we did, we’d be doing something else, like field reset.
My take on it at the moment is that they are considered KOP items. I really don’t think it will be that big of a deal, in several years of inspecting I have only encountered one team that had an issue with the $3500 limit. And that was due to the 4 or 5 unused speed controllers they had not removed from the robot as they kept changing things. Once they removed the really expensive ballast, they were well below the limit.
Again, as others have said, the official answer will have to come from the Q & A, or probably in a team update. I expect this will be answered by the GDC well before 99.5% of teams even start on compiling their BOM.
Now that update 1 requires us to use the FTC controller and electrical components, I’m a little more concerned with the answer. Funny how that $3500 hasn’t had any adjustment for inflation in the last few years.
No comment on Jeff’s sanity since I know him personally.
Gary,
I expect the same interpretation as Jeff outlined above. There is a specific reference to listing KOP items in the BOM for zero cost that must be included. Bill is on the GDC. Remember that although you use an FTC kit, you list what of the kit is actually on the device (robot or minibot, inspected separately) you are listing in the BOM.
