Capability Statement Help for Denver & Colorado Businesses
A capability statement is the one-page document government buyers and prime contractors use to decide whether your business is worth a call. Here’s what a strong one includes, the mistakes to avoid, and how DenverIS helps members build theirs.
What Is a Capability Statement?
Think of it as a résumé for your company, written for government contracting. Contracting officers, small business specialists and prime contractors see a lot of them. You hand it over at matchmaking events, attach it to emails, and send it in response to sources-sought notices. A good one tells the reader in under a minute what you do, who you’ve done it for, and how to find you in federal systems.
It’s usually a single page, occasionally two, saved as a PDF. It isn’t a brochure. Buyers want facts they can act on, not slogans.
What to Include
- Core competencies: the specific services or products you provide, written in the language buyers use in their solicitations.
- Past performance: relevant projects and clients, government or commercial, with a short note on the results.
- Differentiators: what makes you the lower-risk choice: experience, capacity, certifications, speed, location.
- Company data: UEI, CAGE code, NAICS codes (and PSC codes if you use them), socio-economic status such as veteran-owned or woman-owned if certified, and whether you accept government purchase cards.
- Contact information: a named point of contact, phone, email and website.
Tips for a Statement That Gets Read
- Tailor it. Keep a master version, then adjust competencies and past performance for each agency or prime you approach.
- Mirror the buyer’s words. Read the agency’s solicitations and use the same terms for what you do.
- Lead with proof. Specific projects beat general claims.
- Make it scannable with short bullets, clear headings, and your logo and contact info easy to find.
- Keep it current. Update it when you add NAICS codes, earn a certification or finish a notable project.
Common Mistakes
- Writing a generic marketing piece that could describe any company.
- Leaving out the UEI, CAGE code or NAICS codes buyers use to look you up.
- Running to several pages, or cramming in so much text it can’t be skimmed.
- Listing every service you could possibly offer instead of what you do best.
- Forgetting a direct point of contact.
How DenverIS Helps
Capability statement development is part of our Gov Contracting Pro membership ($450/month, 12-month commitment). You’ll work 1:1 with a government contracting coach to shape your statement around your target agencies, then put it to use with opportunity alerts and introductions to prime contractors. The membership also includes SAM.gov setup, a featured listing in our member directory (where members can show their UEI, CAGE and NAICS codes), and a free seat in the quarterly government contracting class. Anyone can buy a single class seat; contact us for pricing.
DenverIS is also a Denver business networking group with one seat per industry, and veteran owners can learn about veteran business networking in Denver and our veterans networking group. See all plans on the membership page.
Build a capability statement buyers remember
Guests can visit up to two meetings for free and ask how Gov Contracting Pro members build and use theirs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a capability statement be?
Usually one page, sometimes two. Buyers skim, so a tight single page with clear sections works best.
What information must a capability statement include?
Core competencies, past performance, differentiators, company data (UEI, CAGE code, NAICS codes and any certifications) and contact information for a named person.
Do I need to be registered in SAM.gov first?
You don’t need to be registered to write one, but your UEI and CAGE code come from SAM.gov registration, and buyers expect to see them. Registering first makes your statement complete.
Should I have a different capability statement for each agency?
Keep one master version, then tailor the competencies and past performance for each agency or prime contractor you approach.
Does DenverIS write capability statements?
Capability statement development is included in the Gov Contracting Pro membership, along with 1:1 government contracting coaching, SAM.gov setup and a free seat in our quarterly class.