Does anybody know if we have to itemize the general hardware on the robot for the Bill of Materials? does anybody also know where we can find this in the rules? Thanks 
What do you mean by “general hardware”?
I don’t know what you mean by general hardware, but the answer is yes. Anything on your robot has to be documented in the BOM. If it came from the kit you still document it, but set the price as $0.00 since KOP components don’t count toward the spending allowance.
Fasteners that cost less than $1 do not have to be included on the BOM cost calculation.
<R20> The following items are excluded from the total cost calculation:
A. all items provided in the 2011 KOP,
B. the cost of any non-functional decorations,
C. the cost of individual fasteners, adhesives, or lubricants, unless any one component exceeds $1.00,
You should enter a line item for the types of fasteners you use.
How would you list an item that is from last years KOP? Does it go in the KOP section with a footnote saying it was the 2010 KOP or does it go in the other section?
Thank you in advance.
You would have to pay for it if it wasn’t in this year’s kit. List the price it costs off the shelf. Make sure it’s available on the shelf. If it was in last year’s kit, but it’s not commercially available this year, you can’t use it.
Steven,
<R29> COTS items from ROBOTS entered in previous FIRST competitions or COTS items that are no longer commercially available may be used under the following conditions:
A. The item must be functionally equivalent to the original condition as delivered from the VENDOR (e.g. a part that has non-functional label markings added would be permitted, but a part that has device-specific mounting holes added would be prohibited), and
B. The item must satisfy ALL applicable 2011 FRC materials/parts use rules.
<R30> Parts custom-made for FIRST and provided to FRC teams in the KOP for previous FRC competitions (e.g. 2006 FRC transmissions, custom-made motor couplers, custom sensor strips, FRC CMUcam II modules, etc.) may be used if the part is still functionally equivalent to the original condition.
As far as cost, I don’t see a rule that specifically applies so the Q&A is the best place for an answer. However, this should cover it but I think that C applies…
4.3.5 Cost Determination of Additional Parts
The “cost” of each non-KOP item is calculated based on the following criteria, as applicable:
A. The purchase price of a COTS item offered for sale by a VENDOR to any customer.
B. The total cost (materials + labor) of an item you pay someone else to make.
C. The fair market value of an item obtained at a discount or as a donation. Fair market value is that price at which the supplier would normally offer the item to other customers. Also considered to be “fair market value” are the discounted prices offered to all teams by suppliers with established relations with FIRST.
Since the robot rules continuously calls out 2011 KOP, I don’t think previous year’s KOP applies in the above rule.
If a lead inspector doesn’t know…how will we know? 
I know that if it’s not in the 2011 KOP then we paid for it, but what I’m saying is we are using something from the 2010 KOP that came in the 2010 KOP, we didn’t pay for it. I hope this clarifies things. Thanks. 
Cass
Pk, for example, we are using the camera out of the 2010 KOP, should it be listed in the KOP section as $0.00 or the other column with a note that it was from the 2010 KOP as $0.00?
(I know I’m taking this way too far, but I just want to make sure we get it right.) Thanks for the help.
Cassie,
I think the correct way is to find out what the price for last year’s camera is and include that in your BOM. It did not come in this year’s KOP so it is not excluded under 4.3.5, and therefore is a COTS item from a previous year.
Ok. Thanks for your help Al!
Cass