Capability statement
Also called: cap statement, capabilities statement, one-pager, capability sheet
A capability statement is a one- or two-page document that tells a government buyer what you do, your core competencies, differentiators, past performance, certifications and the identifiers they need (UEI, CAGE, NAICS).
No regulation requires it, but small business specialists, APEX Accelerators and contracting offices ask for it because it is the fastest way to see whether a firm fits a requirement. It is the attachment to a sources sought response, the leave-behind at an industry day, and the file a prime keeps when looking for subs. Agencies' OSDBU pages often say what they want on it.
What to check: that the top third answers what you do and for whom in plain words, that the NAICS codes listed are the ones your buyers use, that the past performance entries name the agency, the scope and the period, and that the file is a small PDF with your contact and identifiers on one page. Update it every quarter.
What it is not: a brochure or a proposal. Marketing adjectives, stock photos and a mission statement push the information the buyer wants off the page.
See also: Sources sought notice, NAICS code, Past performance, APEX Accelerator (formerly PTAC)
Questions that use this term
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