Capabilities Statement
This is a professional specification sheet that your organization presents as the first contact for most interactions with federal, state, and local government procurement purchasers. This sheet contains vital information at a one shot glance that is efficient, informative, and attractive and differentiates your organization in verbiage, product/services and visualization from your competitors. It contains your UEI number, CAGE code, NAICS codes and past performances to show timeliness, quality, and positive delivery of products and/or services. The Capabilities Statement in other words is your Government Business Resume.
Government contracting has developed into a very competitive marketplace. Companies of all sizes, from small firms with one employee to large firms with thousands of employees have been successful in selling products and services to government agencies at the federal, state, city, county and municipal levels. However, competition has heightened as more companies try to break into, be competitive in, and stay successful in this market.
A complicating factor to success in this market is that fewer people are employed by the government to handle outreach and acquisitions. This means that contractors must know how to distill the information that is most important to a particular decision-maker, state it in a clear, concise manner, and reinforce its importance to the prospect, now even more so than in the past.
Five years ago, no one knew what a Capabilities Statement was, and now, it is required by all government agencies and has developed into a mandatory tool that, if well done, can also help you open doors and target new opportunities, no matter what size company you represent.
Creating a Powerful Capabilities Statement
Successful firms use a Capabilities Statement for a number of purposes:
- Required in many government registration processes
- A door-opener to new agencies and prime contractors
- Proof of qualification
- Proof of past performance
- To set your company apart from competitors
Capabilities Statement Format
A Capabilities Statement should be very brief (only 1 page), to the point, and specifically related to the individual agency’s needs. Ideally, it is a living document that will change depending on the targeted agency. Why is this? Because savvy contractors know that each agency has its own mission and focus, and they speak directly to those in their capabilities statement. It is important that the document be visually interesting and has similar graphic elements to your company’s brand and logo. It must also be a searchable document that can easily be sent as a PDF file.
Therefore, it is recommended that Capabilityies Statements are created in Word or Publisher using a template that reflects a firm’s brand with its own logo, colors and graphic identity. It is important to fit all critical information on one side of one page. The second side, if absolutely necessary, may contain additional supporting data important to the targeted agency such as case studies of past successful projects.
Capabilities Statement Contents
Key elements often included in a capabilities statement are:
- Company Information: Basic details about the company, such as its name, address, contact information, and relevant certifications.
- Core Competencies: A summary of the company’s core capabilities, expertise, and the services or products it provides.
- Past Performance: Highlights of previous projects or contracts, emphasizing successful outcomes and demonstrating relevant experience.
- Differentiators: Information about what sets the company apart from competitors, such as unique capabilities, specialized skills, or innovative approaches.
- NAICS or SIC Codes: Identification of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) or Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes that represent the company’s primary business activities.
- UEI Number: Unique Entity Identifier, you receive this number when you register with SAM
- CAGE Code: The Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, a unique identifier assigned to government contractors.
- Business Size and Status: Information about the company’s size (small business, woman-owned, veteran-owned, etc.), which can be important for certain contract opportunities.
- Point of Contact: Contact details for a representative who can provide more information or address inquiries regarding the capabilities statement.
- Logo and Branding: Including the company logo and branding elements for a professional and cohesive presentation.
Your Responsibility Moving Forward
Keep your Capabilities Statement accurate and up to date. Make any changes to your point of contact, past performances, and be sure to add any certifications you get along the way. You’ll want to tailor your document to fit the agency or prime’s needs to make sure your business is the best option.
Make sure you keep a record of everyone who has your Capabilities Statement. When you make changes, you’ll have the opportunity to resend your resume to every client and get back to the top of their inbox.
Capabilities Statement Webpage
Online presence is a necessity for success in government contracting. A website that presents your UEI number, CAGE code, NAICS codes and past performances to show timeliness, quality, and positive delivery of products and/or services will showcase your business capabilities.
Select GCR creates capabilities websites that are attractive that will differentiate your organization in verbiage, product/services, and visualization from your competitors.
Allow contracting officers and primes to access your business capabilities from anywhere in the world, at any time.