Writing Effective Capability
Statements That Make Impact &
Connection!
Course
Objectives
 What exactly is a
Capability Statement
 Exact Format
 Where to use it
 What an effective
Capability Statement WILL
DO for you
 5 Elements of an Effective
Capability Statement
 Tips for Success
What is a Capability Statement?
In its simplest form, a capability statement is a promotional or
marketing statement about your business and its capabilities and skills
that advertises who you are and what you do.
However, Capability Statements must be tailored to your audience:
Customer Client Partner/Collaboration Investor/Funder
Successful firms use their Capability Statement for a number of
purposes:
• Required in many government registration processes
• A door-opener to new agencies
• Proof of qualification
• Proof of past performance
• It will set your apart from your competitors
Capability Statement Format
 1 or 2 pages (Maximum 2 sides)
 Created in Word or Publisher
 Living document format
 Changes to match the Target’s needs
 PDF format, small file size, email, printed
 Searchable keywords
 Five Key elements
 Provides a REAL Solution
CAPABILITY STATEMENT
Why, Where & How do I use?
 RELATIONSHIP Building
 Virtual Email, Website,
Blog, LinkedIN
 Hardcopy
 RFP Response Requirement
 Agency & Base Events
 Matchmaking
 Associations; Social Events
 Referral from Decision
Makers
 Conferences
 Vendor Outreach Sessions
 You as a Prime Contractor to an
Agency
 You as a Sub-Contractor to an
Agency
 You as a Team Member to Other
Companies
 Contracting & Acquisition Staff
 Program & Technical Managers
What Will a Great
Capability Statement
DO for YOU?
 Door Opener to New
Agencies
 Entices Customers to
consider you
 Serves as a Focused
electronic summary
 Set you apart from your
competitors
 Mitigates the risk
 Satisfy specific request
 Proves you know and
understand the YOUR
Industry Market and
Deliverables
AREAS
OF
FOCUS
The five key areas included in
a successful Capability
Statement are:
1. Core competencies /
capabilities
2. Differentiators / including
facilities and equipment
3. Past performance
4. Corporate data including
Commodity/NAICS/PSC
5. Contact information
Key
Element #1
Otherwise it is a flyer, a
brochure, a line card, a
three fold, etc. And it will
be discarded!
CAPABILITY STATEMENT
Tip: It is best to call the document a
Capability Statement. This should be
stated at the top of the document. This
is a term known by government
contracting decision-makers and
indicates that you have knowledge of
the contracting process.
A Capability Statement should also show
a firm's logo and other branding
elements for recognition and be free of
long paragraphs, instead, using short
sentences and bulleted lists for quick
visual scanning.
Key Element # 2
Core Competencies
Section title:
CORE
COMPETENCIES
Laser-focused on
the target!
Short introduction
statement
Your solid
expertise
Relate your
company’s core
competencies to
the target’s
specific needs
Followed by key-
word heavy bullet
points
These are short introduction statements relating the company's core
competencies to the agency's specific needs followed by key-word heavy bullet
points. This is NOT everything a firm is able to do, but the core expertise of a
firm, specifically related to the agency this Capability Statement is written for,
its mission and identified opportunities.
Key Element # 3
Past Performance
List past customers for whom
you have done similar work.
Prioritize by:
Internal to
that agency
/corporation
Related
business
Commercial
contracts
Local/State/
Nationwide
Shows the benefit to the
Customer of Company’s
capabilities, expertise, and
qualifications
Key Element # 4
Differentiators
 Identify what makes you
different from your
competitors
 Value
 And how this benefits the
targeted:
 Agency
 Prime
 Team/JV
Ask Yourself:
• How is your company best suited for the needs of this
agency?
• What is it about your services that make you stand out
from the rest? What is it about your people that give you
the advantage over
• your competitors?
• Why are your products better solutions than the others that
are available?
If these benefits cannot be clearly communicated, it is
impossible for a decision-maker to make a clear
recommendation for your company over one of your
competitors.
Key Element # 4
Differentiators
What makes you truly
different from your
competitors:
 Location
 Training
 ISO
 Exclusives
(trademark,
branded
service/item)
 Relationships
 Experience (use
metrics to stand
out)
Key Element # 5
Company Data
 Duns and Cage Code
 NAICS/PSC
 GSA Schedule Contract
Number(s)
 SAMS
 Socio-economic
certifications: SDB,
WOSB, 8(a), HUB Zone,
SDVOB, VA
 State Contract Numbers
 Licensing/Certifications
Key Element # 5
Company Data
1 or 2
sentence
summary of
highlights
Financial Stability
Number of
employees
Capacity
Teams
Key Element # 5
Company Data
 Building relationships: It
is about PEOPLE
 YOUR contact
information-
 Name
 Email
 Phone: office, direct
 Printed on the
Capability Statement,
not attached as a
business card
More Uses of Door-
Opener Capability
Statement
…….obtaining Decision-
maker meetings!
 Small Business Reps
 Contacting Officers
 Program Managers, end
users
 Network colleagues,
etc.
Tips for Success
Tailor the Capability Statement to the target
Tailor
Use their terminology
Use
You will have many versions, one for each target
Have
Make sure the file size is small, under 1 MB
Make
Save as PDF as
•YourCompanyNameCapabilityStatement.pdf
Save
Follow Me
on Social
Media!
FB: @alfredatboney
IG: @alfreda.t.boney
LinkedIN:
www.linkedin.com/alfreda-
boney
Thank you
Workforce and Professional Development Training for
Individuals, Corporate, Non-Profit
Small Business Consulting/Mentor/Speaker
aboney@perfectlysuitedcareers.com
904-899-2637
www.pscconsulting.co
Alfreda T. Boney GWDF, CPRW, CCEP
“The Capability Connector”
Manual Download available:
www.stan.store/alfredatboney

PSCC 2023 CS Presentation .pptx

  • 1.
    Writing Effective Capability StatementsThat Make Impact & Connection!
  • 2.
    Course Objectives  What exactlyis a Capability Statement  Exact Format  Where to use it  What an effective Capability Statement WILL DO for you  5 Elements of an Effective Capability Statement  Tips for Success
  • 3.
    What is aCapability Statement? In its simplest form, a capability statement is a promotional or marketing statement about your business and its capabilities and skills that advertises who you are and what you do. However, Capability Statements must be tailored to your audience: Customer Client Partner/Collaboration Investor/Funder Successful firms use their Capability Statement for a number of purposes: • Required in many government registration processes • A door-opener to new agencies • Proof of qualification • Proof of past performance • It will set your apart from your competitors
  • 4.
    Capability Statement Format 1 or 2 pages (Maximum 2 sides)  Created in Word or Publisher  Living document format  Changes to match the Target’s needs  PDF format, small file size, email, printed  Searchable keywords  Five Key elements  Provides a REAL Solution
  • 5.
    CAPABILITY STATEMENT Why, Where& How do I use?  RELATIONSHIP Building  Virtual Email, Website, Blog, LinkedIN  Hardcopy  RFP Response Requirement  Agency & Base Events  Matchmaking  Associations; Social Events  Referral from Decision Makers  Conferences  Vendor Outreach Sessions  You as a Prime Contractor to an Agency  You as a Sub-Contractor to an Agency  You as a Team Member to Other Companies  Contracting & Acquisition Staff  Program & Technical Managers
  • 6.
    What Will aGreat Capability Statement DO for YOU?  Door Opener to New Agencies  Entices Customers to consider you  Serves as a Focused electronic summary  Set you apart from your competitors  Mitigates the risk  Satisfy specific request  Proves you know and understand the YOUR Industry Market and Deliverables
  • 7.
    AREAS OF FOCUS The five keyareas included in a successful Capability Statement are: 1. Core competencies / capabilities 2. Differentiators / including facilities and equipment 3. Past performance 4. Corporate data including Commodity/NAICS/PSC 5. Contact information
  • 8.
    Key Element #1 Otherwise itis a flyer, a brochure, a line card, a three fold, etc. And it will be discarded! CAPABILITY STATEMENT Tip: It is best to call the document a Capability Statement. This should be stated at the top of the document. This is a term known by government contracting decision-makers and indicates that you have knowledge of the contracting process. A Capability Statement should also show a firm's logo and other branding elements for recognition and be free of long paragraphs, instead, using short sentences and bulleted lists for quick visual scanning.
  • 9.
    Key Element #2 Core Competencies Section title: CORE COMPETENCIES Laser-focused on the target! Short introduction statement Your solid expertise Relate your company’s core competencies to the target’s specific needs Followed by key- word heavy bullet points These are short introduction statements relating the company's core competencies to the agency's specific needs followed by key-word heavy bullet points. This is NOT everything a firm is able to do, but the core expertise of a firm, specifically related to the agency this Capability Statement is written for, its mission and identified opportunities.
  • 10.
    Key Element #3 Past Performance List past customers for whom you have done similar work. Prioritize by: Internal to that agency /corporation Related business Commercial contracts Local/State/ Nationwide Shows the benefit to the Customer of Company’s capabilities, expertise, and qualifications
  • 11.
    Key Element #4 Differentiators  Identify what makes you different from your competitors  Value  And how this benefits the targeted:  Agency  Prime  Team/JV Ask Yourself: • How is your company best suited for the needs of this agency? • What is it about your services that make you stand out from the rest? What is it about your people that give you the advantage over • your competitors? • Why are your products better solutions than the others that are available? If these benefits cannot be clearly communicated, it is impossible for a decision-maker to make a clear recommendation for your company over one of your competitors.
  • 12.
    Key Element #4 Differentiators What makes you truly different from your competitors:  Location  Training  ISO  Exclusives (trademark, branded service/item)  Relationships  Experience (use metrics to stand out)
  • 13.
    Key Element #5 Company Data  Duns and Cage Code  NAICS/PSC  GSA Schedule Contract Number(s)  SAMS  Socio-economic certifications: SDB, WOSB, 8(a), HUB Zone, SDVOB, VA  State Contract Numbers  Licensing/Certifications
  • 14.
    Key Element #5 Company Data 1 or 2 sentence summary of highlights Financial Stability Number of employees Capacity Teams
  • 15.
    Key Element #5 Company Data  Building relationships: It is about PEOPLE  YOUR contact information-  Name  Email  Phone: office, direct  Printed on the Capability Statement, not attached as a business card
  • 16.
    More Uses ofDoor- Opener Capability Statement …….obtaining Decision- maker meetings!  Small Business Reps  Contacting Officers  Program Managers, end users  Network colleagues, etc.
  • 17.
    Tips for Success Tailorthe Capability Statement to the target Tailor Use their terminology Use You will have many versions, one for each target Have Make sure the file size is small, under 1 MB Make Save as PDF as •YourCompanyNameCapabilityStatement.pdf Save
  • 18.
    Follow Me on Social Media! FB:@alfredatboney IG: @alfreda.t.boney LinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/alfreda- boney
  • 19.
    Thank you Workforce andProfessional Development Training for Individuals, Corporate, Non-Profit Small Business Consulting/Mentor/Speaker aboney@perfectlysuitedcareers.com 904-899-2637 www.pscconsulting.co Alfreda T. Boney GWDF, CPRW, CCEP “The Capability Connector” Manual Download available: www.stan.store/alfredatboney