Capability statement

One page. Every code a buyer checks.

A capability statement is the short summary, usually one page, that US government buyers and prime contractors use to shortlist suppliers. We write and design yours.

Three pages from the Mrala Enterprise company profile on a warm surface

What it contains

What goes on a capability statement

Buyers expect the same blocks, in roughly this order.

  • Core competenciesWhat you do best, in short lines that echo the buyer’s own requirements.
  • Past performanceRelevant contracts and clients, government or commercial, named with permission.
  • DifferentiatorsWhat sets you apart: capacity, certifications, specialist equipment or speed of mobilisation.
  • Company data and contactYour codes and set-aside status, plus a named person with a direct email and phone.

Codes and numbers

Which codes should a capability statement show?

Contracting officers filter by these, so they must be exact.

ItemWhat it isWhere it comes from
UEIA 12-character ID that replaced the DUNS number in 2022Assigned in SAM.gov
CAGE codeA five-character code for your business and locationIssued through your SAM.gov registration
NAICS codesSix-digit codes for the industries you work inChosen by you from the NAICS list
PSC codesFour-character codes for what you supplyThe federal Product and Service Code list
Set-aside statusCertifications such as 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB and SDVOSBThe SBA; small business size is self-certified

How it works

How we write and design yours

  1. Collect your data

    Your SAM.gov details, codes, certifications and a list of past contracts.

  2. Pick the target

    We agree which agencies or primes it’s aimed at and shape the competencies to them.

  3. Write tight, then design

    Scannable lines with active verbs, laid out in your brand as a linked PDF plus a version for printing.

Getting registered

Registering to bid for US government work

Register in SAM.gov before chasing federal contracts. Registration is free, and it gives you the UEI and CAGE code buyers look for. The SBA’s federal contracting pages explain set-asides and certifications.

State and local governments, Pennsylvania’s included, run their own supplier registration and certifications. Our Pennsylvania office looks after US clients.

Questions

Questions about capability statements

Question not here? Send it to us and we will answer it directly.

Ask a question

Do we still need one once we’re registered for federal contracts?

Yes. Registration makes you eligible, but it doesn’t sell you. Contracting officers, small business specialists and prime contractors ask for a capability statement at outreach events, because it shows in a minute if you’re a fit. It’s the document that follows a handshake.

What if we have no government past performance yet?

Use commercial work. Past performance doesn’t have to be federal, and buyers expect newer firms to show private-sector contracts, subcontracts and relevant projects instead. Describe the scope, size and result of each, with the client’s permission, and the statement still does its job.

Should it be one page or two?

One side suits most firms, because buyers often collect a stack of them at a single event. A second side can work for firms with a long list of contracts or certifications, provided the front still stands on its own. We design to the length your content genuinely needs.

What affects the cost of a capability statement?

Mostly how much writing is needed and how many versions you want. One statement from details you’ve already gathered is quick to produce; a master statement plus tailored versions for several agencies takes longer. Agencies publish procurement forecasts, and we use them to decide what each version leads with.

Selling outside the US?

UK buyers know the same document as a corporate brochure, and South African tenders ask for a company profile. Our company profile design handles both markets, written in the terms each one uses and designed to match your statement.

Get a quote for your capability statement

Send your SAM.gov details, your NAICS codes and a short list of past work, along with any agency you’re targeting. We reply with questions and a fixed price, usually in dollars. Then we write and design a capability statement that’s ready for your next outreach event.