Capability Statement Template
Fill in the sections federal buyers expect and copy or download a clean, one-page capability statement.
A complete capability statement, prefilled with an example you can edit
Company Overview
One or two sentences: who you are and what you do
Core Competencies
3 to 6 bullet phrases naming what you deliver
Differentiators
Why you, not a competitor: certifications, results, reach
Past Performance
2 to 4 relevant projects with client, scope, and outcome
Company Data & Codes
UEI, CAGE, NAICS, set-aside status, SAM.gov registration
Contact Information
Name, title, phone, email, website, address
The capability statement template above is a fill-in, one-page capability statement with six blocks: company overview, core competencies, differentiators, past performance, company data and codes, and contact information. It is prefilled with an illustrative example for a fictional woman-owned environmental consulting firm, so you can see how specific each block should be. Replace each block with your own content, then copy the text or download it as a file and lay it out on a single page with your logo.
Turning the text into a one-page layout
The tool gives you the words; the finished document needs a layout buyers can scan in under a minute. In Word, Google Docs, or a design tool, a common arrangement is:
- Top band: company name, logo, and the one or two sentence overview.
- Left column: core competencies as short bullet phrases, then differentiators.
- Right column: past performance entries, each with the client, the scope, the value, the year, and one measurable result.
- Bottom band or sidebar: company data and codes, then contact details.
Keep fonts readable when printed, use one accent color, and save the final version as a PDF so the layout does not shift when someone opens it.
What goes in the company data block
This is the block buyers use to check whether they can do business with you, so it must be exact.
| Item | What it is |
|---|---|
| Unique Entity ID | The 12-character identifier assigned when you register in SAM.gov |
| CAGE code | The five-character Commercial and Government Entity code issued with SAM.gov registration |
| NAICS codes | The six-digit industry codes for the work you do; list your primary code first |
| Socioeconomic status | Any set-aside designations you hold, such as 8(a), HUBZone, woman-owned small business, or service-disabled veteran-owned small business |
| SAM.gov status | Active registration; renew it every year so it does not lapse |
Only list a designation you have formally obtained, and only list codes that match the work on the statement.
Tailor it to each buyer
Keep a master version, then make a copy for each agency or prime contractor you approach. Reorder the competencies so the ones that match the buyer's current requirements come first, using the wording from their solicitations or forecasts, and swap in the most relevant past performance. A generic statement sent to every buyer reads as one.
For a section-by-section explanation, read our guide to the capability statement, and if you are short on government work, our guide to writing capability statement past performance covers how to use commercial, subcontract, and nonprofit projects. If the funding you are pursuing is a grant rather than a contract, the registrations are the same; see our registration steps for federal applicants. Our small business grant writing service prepares the proposals that follow once a buyer or funder is interested.
Frequently asked questions
Can you give me some examples of capabilities?+
Capabilities are the specific services or products a company can deliver, stated in the terms buyers use. Examples include wetland delineation and permitting, Phase I environmental site assessments, network security monitoring, facilities maintenance for federal buildings, bilingual curriculum development, and grant program evaluation. Weak examples are broad claims like 'quality service' or 'innovative solutions', which tell a contracting officer nothing about what you actually do.
What is a capacity statement?+
A capacity statement, sometimes called an organizational capacity statement, describes whether an organization has the staff, systems, finances, and track record to carry out a funded project. Funders and grant applications often ask for one, usually as a section of a proposal. A capability statement is the government contracting version: a one-page marketing sheet listing what a company does, its past performance, and its registration codes.
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