Bidding, estimating & procurement · Core
Estimate
Also called: quote
ELI5
A proposed cost for a stated scope, based on current information and assumptions.
Used in conversation
“Let’s check the estimate against the brief before we circulate it.”
Pitch context
You may hear this during a commercial brief, treatment, bid, award or pre-production process.
Why it matters: Helps interpret the brief, director treatment, bid, award, production process and campaign deliverables.
Connected terms
- Production bidA production bid is a supplier’s formal priced proposal; an estimate is a cost forecast that may remain provisional.
- Firm bidAn estimate can remain provisional; a firm bid commits more strongly to a defined scope and price, subject to stated qualifications.
Sources & evidence · 6
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- AICP — AICP Bid FormDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- AICP — Suggested Best Practices for Bidding and Bidding Reference GuideDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- IPA / APA / ISBA — Production Pitch Process Initiative and Best PracticeDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- pitch.dog — Pitch Dictionary Deep Research SynthesisDirect source · practitioner · checked 2026-08-14
- World Intellectual Property Organization — Rights Clearance: A Guide for Independent FilmmakersDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Association of Independent Commercial Producers — AICP Guidelines and Best PracticesSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14