If you plan to bid on government contracting jobs, one of the tasks you need to complete is creating a high-quality capability statement for government contractors. This document is similar to a resume in many respects, and we have some tips to ensure that your capability statement helps you stand out from your competitors.
- Start With A Summary
Generally, at the top of your capability statement, you will want to showcase your company logo (and perhaps your slogan) and your contact information. Below that, you will want to write a few sentences describing your business and what it can provide for government contractors.
This is a bit like the objective in a resume, but here you are focusing not on your business goals, but on how you can benefit a government agency. In some cases, you might want to tailor this section to fit the specific contract on which you are bidding, just as you would alter a resume to fit a specific job posting.
- Add Your Core Competencies
The next section to tackle is Core Competencies and which is basically a list of the main goods or services that you can provide to a government agency. This also is sometimes called Core Capabilities, but no matter the name, this section should be near the top of any capability statement for government contractors as procurement agents will be most interested in learning whether or not you can provide what they need.
- Differentiate Your Company
The next section to include is known as Differentiators, and in this section, you want to highlight what sets your company apart from your competitors. You might include facts such as being family-owned or perhaps years of experience. You also could include something like your ability to complete jobs on time or ahead of schedule. Your
- Add Your Certifications & Codes
In the world of government contracting, there are many important codes and certifications that a procurement agent will want to see. For instance, you need to include your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and Product Service Codes, which describe the exact goods and services your company can provide.
You also must include your Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code. CAGE Codes are the 5-character IDs that are assigned to companies once they’ve completed their registration in the System for Award Management database.
Additionally, if your business is signed up with the Small Business Administration and part of any of the SBA’s programs, you will want to include this information. For instance, perhaps you are part of the 8a Business Development program or perhaps you qualify as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) or Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB).
These two latter identifiers are known as set-asides, and a portion of all government contracting dollars are set aside specifically for different types of small businesses. If you qualify for a set-aside, this can make it easier to win certain contracts, so be sure to sign up for any relevant programs and include this information on your capability statement.
- Include Your Past Performances
This is kind of a combination of the work experience and reference section of a resume. In this section, you will want to list some of the companies or agencies you’ve served in the past. Some people will add corporate logos for this section, while others will list the names of the companies with a basic description of what was provided for those companies.
- Create An Easy-To-Read Design
Whilst browsing the internet for capability statement design ideas, you probably notice that a few of these examples are a bit too colorful or perhaps the designer got a bit too creative with the design. The best capability statements have clearly labeled sections (with bullet points) so that the procurement agent can quickly scan the document to find the information they need.
In general, just as with a resume, a simple, easy-to-read design is your best bet. Government procurement agents won’t be choosing a contractor based on a clever capability statement design. They are far more concerned with your Past Performances and your Differentiators than what fonts and colors you’ve chosen for your statement.
- Double & Triple-Check Your Capability Statement
Just as with a resume, checking for spelling and grammar errors is essential. Careless errors tend to show a lack of attention to detail, which might be off-putting to a procurement agent.
Most importantly, however, you will want to double-check your contact information, such as your email and phone number. Also, double-check that you’ve used the correct NAICS and Product Service Codes.
Get Started With Government Contracting!
Of course, creating a capability statement is just one task you will need to complete to become a government contractor. The first task on your list will be to complete your System for Award Management (SAM) registration, and we can help.
SAM is the government database that includes information about all government contractors, and you cannot do business with any federal agency without an active SAM registration.
While the government does not charge a fee to register with SAM, the registration process is difficult and time-consuming, often taking 12 hours or more to complete. This is why many people simply hire a third-party registration service to complete the SAM registration process.
At Federal Contractor Registry, we handle hundreds of SAM registrations and SAM renewals every year and can complete your registration quickly and accurately, so that you can get started bidding on government contractor jobs as soon as possible. We also handle SAM renewals and can help you register your business with the Small Business Administration, if applicable.
If you would like us to handle your SAM registration, simply click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A registration specialist will be in touch as soon as possible to gather information and get started with your SAM registration, leaving you free to search for federal contractor jobs and to work on your capability statement.