By: Denise Gilmartin, VP, Business Affairs, AICP
AICP has released the updated Suggested Best Practices – Bidding – 2026, along with the newly created AICP Bidding Reference Guide, providing members with practical tools to support transparency, consistency, and professionalism throughout the bidding process.
The 2026 Best Practices reflect current industry standards and evolving production practices. Designed as a working framework, the document is intended to guide companies as they prepare, review, and evaluate bids. The updated Best Practices also include recommended language related to invoicing for pitch fees, should a company choose to implement them.
The Bidding Reference Guide serves as a companion resource, offering a series of questions that production and post production companies may wish to ask agencies or advertisers when preparing a bid. Used together, the Best Practices and the Reference Guide are designed to function as complementary tools—providing both strategic guidance and practical support for day-to-day bidding activities.
Two committees composed of AICP members played a key role in developing and refining these updates. Members of the AICP National Board of Directors who helped shape the pitch fee language in the Best Practices include Sally Campbell of Somesuch; Qadree Holmes of Quriosity Productions; Tabitha Mason-Elliott of BARK BARK, who also serves as Chairperson of the National Board; Lisa Masseur of TESSA; and Mal Ward of Arts & Sciences, who serves as Vice Chairperson of the National Board.
In addition, an AICP West Board Committee worked to update the Bidding Guidelines. The committee was chaired by Cat Craven-Griffiths of Caviar Content and included Ena Nicole Abadjian of Anonymous Content; Yvette Cobarrubias of Cosmo Street Editorial; JP Colombo of Serial Pictures; Suzanne Hargrove of PRETTYBIRD; Sean Moody of Biscuit Filmworks, President of the AICP West Board of Directors; and Jason A. Wolk of Spears & Arrows.
Incorporating these Best Practices into day-to-day business helps promote fairness, efficiency, and clear communication across all stages of the bidding process. The Reference Guide also provides a helpful resource when engaging on a potential project, ensuring that all parties are aligned from the outset.
To further support member understanding and provide an opportunity for discussion, AICP will host a virtual town hall on March 26 to review these guidelines in detail and answer questions. Members are encouraged to attend and participate – please RSVP here.
If you have any questions regarding the 2026 Best Practices or the Bidding Reference Guide, please contact me at deniseg@aicp.com.
This information is designed as a service to AICP Members and is intended only to provide general information on the subject covered and not as a comprehensive or exhaustive treatment of that subject, legal advice, or a legal opinion. Members are advised to consult with legal counsel and other professionals with respect to the application of the subject covered to any specific production or other factual situation. Use by a company of any of the options and provisions discussed herein are matters of individual company decision in accordance with its own business needs and nothing contained herein is intended to suggest agreement among AICP members or the adoption by the AICP of a uniform position concerning the content of this article.