Material Costs
In fairness to all participating teams, each problem has a cost limit — a maximum total value on the materials used in the final solution at the competition. This limit is shown on the Problem Synopses and in the limitations of the problem. The team must keep a budget and complete a Cost Form to turn in to the staging judge on the day of the tournament. (For Division I, the coach may write out the form, but the team must dictate it.)
There are four categories for assigning value to items:
If the team uses only part of an item — e.g., half of a foam pool noodle, an eighth of a container of face paint, a 6-foot segment of PVC pipe — it should list the value of only the portion used in the final solution on the day of competition. In other words, if the team went through three rolls of duct tape during many trial-and-error sessions over the months leading up to the tournament but used only a yard of duct tape in the elements of the solution presented on competition day, then the team should list the value for one yard of duct tape. Rental equipment should be valued at the rental fee for one day, and teams should have a receipt for this.
The team may combine items used in small amounts (e.g., glue, markers, paper clips) on the Cost Form and calculate them as miscellaneous items.
There are four categories for assigning value to items:
- Actual value: If the item is purchased new, the team assigns the actual value. The team should keep the receipts.
- Yard sale value: If the item is borrowed or donated or the team scavenged for it, it should be valued at a yard sale price. This is a "used" or "secondhand" price.
- Assigned value: The Program Guide assigns a specific value to certain items — such as musical instruments, some A/V equipment and some electronics.
- Exempt: Certain items are exempt from cost. Among them are extension cords, batteries, trash items (e.g., paper towel rolls, scraps of wood, egg cartons) and tools used for construction or repairs.
If the team uses only part of an item — e.g., half of a foam pool noodle, an eighth of a container of face paint, a 6-foot segment of PVC pipe — it should list the value of only the portion used in the final solution on the day of competition. In other words, if the team went through three rolls of duct tape during many trial-and-error sessions over the months leading up to the tournament but used only a yard of duct tape in the elements of the solution presented on competition day, then the team should list the value for one yard of duct tape. Rental equipment should be valued at the rental fee for one day, and teams should have a receipt for this.
The team may combine items used in small amounts (e.g., glue, markers, paper clips) on the Cost Form and calculate them as miscellaneous items.