Guide
Capability statement template for government contracting
A capability statement is the one-page résumé of your business for government buyers. Contracting officers scan it in under a minute to answer one question: can this company do the work, and are they easy to buy from? This guide covers the sections that belong on the page, a template you can copy, and the mistakes that get a statement deleted.
What a capability statement is for
It is not a brochure and not a proposal. It is a fast-scan document you attach to an email, hand out at an industry day, or send with a response to a sources-sought notice. Its job is to prove relevance and reduce risk in a single page.
The six sections that belong on the page
1. Core competencies. Three to five short statements of what you actually deliver, written in the buyer's vocabulary — not marketing language.
2. Differentiators. Why you over the next vendor: certifications, clearances, delivery speed, geographic coverage, specialised equipment. Concrete, verifiable facts only.
3. Past performance. Two to four relevant contracts with the customer name, scope, period and value where you are allowed to share it. Relevance beats size.
4. Company data. Legal name, Unique Entity ID (UEI), CAGE code, NAICS codes, socio-economic designations (small business, woman-owned, veteran-owned, HUBZone, 8(a)), accepted payment methods.
5. Contact. One named person, direct phone and email, plus your website. No generic info@ address.
6. A tailored line. One sentence connecting your capability to the specific agency or notice you are sending it to.
A copyable one-page layout
Header: company name, logo, UEI, CAGE, NAICS codes, set-aside status. Left column: core competencies and differentiators. Right column: past performance and company data. Footer: contact block. Keep it to one page as a PDF, named CompanyName-CapabilityStatement-2026.pdf so it survives being saved to a buyer's folder.
Mistakes that get it ignored
Sending the same generic file to every agency; burying the UEI and NAICS codes; listing twenty competencies instead of four; using stock photography instead of past performance; and claiming certifications you do not currently hold. Government buyers verify registrations in SAM.gov — anything unverifiable costs you credibility.
Keep it current
Review the statement each quarter and after every completed contract. Your SAM registration, NAICS codes and set-aside status must match exactly what the statement claims. If your registration lapses, the statement is worthless — renewal is annual.
Where the statement fits in the pipeline
A capability statement converts only when it lands on the right desk at the right time. That means knowing which notices and sources-sought requests match you, early. Bidly monitors official portals daily, scores each notice against your profile with an explainable 0–100 fit score, and produces a bid brief covering strengths, risks and required documents — so your statement goes out with a reason attached.
Always confirm eligibility and submission requirements on the original notice at SAM.gov, Grants.gov or TED before responding.