An AICP bid is a production budget formatted according to the standards established by the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP). It is the standard bid format used by advertising agencies, production companies, and brands across the United States for commercial film and video production.
When an agency sends a creative brief to production companies and asks for a bid, they expect to receive it in AICP format. This standardization allows agencies to compare bids apples-to-apples across multiple production companies and markets.
AICP bids are organized into standardized categories that cover every cost element of a commercial production.
Pre-Production and Wrap
Scouting, tech scouts, pre-production meetings, pre-light days, strike, and wrap costs.
Shooting Crew
Every crew position listed individually with day rates and the number of shoot days, prep days, and travel days. This covers director, DP, camera operators, gaffer, key grip, sound, hair, makeup, wardrobe, production designer, and all support positions.
Studio and Location
Location fees, permits, studio rental, site survey costs, and location-related expenses.
Equipment
Camera packages, lighting, grip, sound, playback, monitors, and all production equipment rentals.
Art Department
Set construction, props, set dressing, wardrobe purchases, and art department labor and materials.
Talent
On-camera talent fees, session fees, usage, fitting fees, and talent-related costs. Separately broken out for SAG-AFTRA and non-union talent.
Travel and Expenses
Airfare, ground transportation, lodging, per diems, catering, and all travel-related costs for crew and talent.
Production Fee
The production company's fee for producing the job. This is the production company's profit margin on the project.
Insurance
Production insurance costs including general liability, workers compensation, equipment coverage, and additional insured endorsements.
AICP bids include standardized markup percentages on different categories. Production categories (crew, equipment, locations) typically carry a markup. Travel and expense categories typically carry a lower passthrough markup. These percentages are industry-standard and understood by both the production company and the agency.
Standardization. When an agency is evaluating bids from three different production companies in three different markets, the AICP format ensures every bid breaks costs down in the same categories. The agency can compare crew rates, equipment costs, location fees, and markups directly without translating between different budget formats.
Transparency. Every line item is visible. There are no hidden costs or unexplained lump sums. The agency and their client can see exactly where every dollar goes.
Accountability. The bid becomes the financial contract for the production. Actual costs are reconciled against the bid during wrap accounting. Overages and savings are documented line by line.
Alaska Production Company bids in full AICP format for every agency engagement. Our bids include Alaska-specific line items that visiting producers may not anticipate: bush plane charters, helicopter access, marine vessel coordination, wilderness safety personnel, cold-weather equipment, and remote logistics. Every line is defensible, every rate is market, and every markup is industry standard. See our AICP bid capability page for details.
45161 W Glenn Hwy #1185
Chickaloon, AK 99674
