Technology

How to write a powerful statement of capability for government contractors

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What is the purpose of a capability statement?

Government contracting has become a very competitive market, thanks to its potential to be very profitable. Businesses of all sizes, from small micro-businesses with one employee to large mega-businesses with thousands of employees, have been successful in selling products and services to government agencies at the federal, state, city, county, and municipal levels.

However, competition has increased as more companies try to enter, stay competitive and stay successful in this market. Five years ago, no one knew what a Statement of Capability was, and now it’s an essential tool to help you be as successful as possible, no matter what size company you represent.

Another complicating factor is that the government employs fewer people to handle outreach and acquisitions. This means contractors must know how to distill the information that is most important to a particular decision maker, express it clearly and concisely, and reinforce its importance to the prospect, even more so than in the past.

Successful businesses use their Statement of Capability for a number of purposes:

o Required in many government registration processes

o A gateway to new agencies

o Qualification test

o Proof of past performance

o Set you apart from your competitors

Capacity declaration format

A Statement of Capability should be very short (only 1-2 pages), to the point, and specifically related to the needs of the individual agency. Ideally, it is a living document that will change depending on the target agency. Why is this? Because smart contractors know that each agency has its own mission and focus, and they speak directly to them in their statement of capability.

It is important that the document is visually interesting and has graphic elements similar to your company brand and logo. It should also be a searchable document that can be easily sent as a PDF file.

Therefore, we recommend that capability statements be created in Word or Publisher using a template that reflects a company’s brand with its own logo, colors, and graphic identity. It is important to place all critical information on one side of a page. The second side, if absolutely necessary, can contain additional supporting data relevant to the target agency, such as case studies of previous successful projects.

Content of the declaration of capacity

The five key areas included in a success are:

1. Basic skills

2. Past performance

3. Differentiators

4. Corporate data

5. Contact information

Tips:

It is better to call the document Statement of Capability. This should be indicated at the top of the document. This is a term familiar to government contracting decision makers and indicates that you are aware of the contracting process. A statement of capability should also display a company logo and other branding elements, for recognition, and be free of long paragraphs, instead using short sentences and bulleted lists for quick visual scanning.

When writing a Capability Statement, use the following section labels: Core Competencies, Past Performance, and Differentiators. These are the key elements government buyers look for to make a quick decision.

Display contact information, including the website and a specific person’s name, email, and phone number, on each side (page) of the document.

Create a new document for each agency, principal, or teamwork opportunity. This way, each capability statement has all the information you need for that opportunity, and only the information you need.

A capacity statement is preferably one page, one sided. Go both ways only if absolutely necessary.

Save and distribute as a PDF, not Word, PowerPoint, or any other format. Save the document with your company name in the file name. Many federal agencies block Word and Publisher documents because they may contain viruses; however, a PDF file is much more secure, generally smaller, and remains visually consistent when mailed.

Basic skills

These are short introductory statements that relate the company’s core competencies to the specific needs of the agency, followed by bullet points packed with keywords. This is NOT all that a company can do, but the core expertise of a company, specifically related to the agency for which this Capability Statement is written, its mission, and identified opportunities.

past performances

Start by listing past clients for whom your company has done similar work. Prioritize from the related agency, to all federal to another government, to commercial contracts. If the above projects do not relate to the needs of the target agency, do not mention it.

Tip: Ideally, include specific contact information for immediate reference. Include name, title, email, and phone. Use this information when you meet with decision makers. Leave this information out of the Capability Statement when you submit the PDF as an initial outreach effort or leave it as a handout at conferences.

differentiators

Doing business with the government is highly competitive. Contractors have the burden of dealing with this competitive market and outperforming other contractors. Many companies trying to increase sales in the government market do not have a clear value statement detailing what sets them apart from their competitors. A succinct and clear statement that relates to the agency’s specific needs is what will help procurement people, program managers, and end users understand why they should choose your company over other competitors.

Examples of differentiating questions:

How is your company best suited to the needs of this agency? What makes your services stand out from the rest? What is it about your people that gives you the advantage over your competitors? Why are your products better solutions than 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. Many companies do not take this critical step. And they wonder why they are losing contracts.

Company data

Include a short sentence or two with a company description detailing the relevant story. Please include: the size of your business, your revenue, the number of employees you have, and the typical geographic area you serve.

Tip: Readers will visit your website for additional information. Make sure your website is constantly up to date and government focused.

List of specific relevant codes

  • DUNES
  • Socioeconomic certifications: 8(a), HUB Zone, SDVOB, etc.
  • NAICS (all) Do not include code descriptions, just use the numbers
  • cage code
  • Accept Credit and Purchase Cards
  • GSA Program Contract Number(s)
  • Other federal contract vehicles
  • BPA and other federal contract numbers
  • State Contract Numbers
  • Name (a specific person)
  • Direction
  • Phone (main and cell)
  • Email (a personal email, not info@)

If your business has won any awards, accolades, or has notable achievements related to that agency, please list them only if you have space.

Use this information to help you create a powerful Statement of Capability and open doors to federal government contracting opportunities. This document is the key to building relationships with key decision makers in government contracting, providing them with a concise description of the goods and services your business can provide, and a constant reminder of your business. When written correctly, a Statement of Capability is the tool that sets your business above the competition.

Business

Learn about first-time homebuyer credit

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There are a host of financial incentives provided by the federal government to encourage people to buy their own home. The most important and largest of these is the one included in the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Law of 2009. In accordance with the provisions of this law, an amount of USD 8000 is extended as a credit amount tax to skilled workers for the first time. home buyers. This is a great monetary benefit for first-time homebuyers, since one does not have to pay this amount until the property is sold or is not used as the primary residence of the beneficiary who claimed the tax credit.

What are the necessary conditions that must be met to qualify for this tax credit? As defined by the IRS, a first-time homebuyer is a person who has not purchased a residence in the three years immediately preceding their purchase. Income levels have been set for single buyers and married couples above which the tax credit is not available. For properties purchased between the periods of January 1, 2009 to November 05, 2009, the maximum income level for a single buyer must be less than USD 75,000 and in the case of couples who are co-owners, the income levels cannot be exceed USD 150,000. Similarly, for sales operations executed from November 6, 2009 to April 30, 2010, the maximum level of income could be USD 125,000 and USD 250,000 for single buyers and couples respectively. You can apply for a joint loan only if neither spouse has bought a house in the last three years. The couple still has the option of taking out a loan by purchasing the home as a sole buyer in the name of the spouse who has not purchased a home in the last three years.

Some important things to keep in mind about the first-time homebuyer credit include the fact that the amount of tax credit available depends on the price of the property. The available tax credit is equal to ten percent of the purchase price of the property, with $8,000 being the maximum amount that can be claimed. The other key point to keep in mind is that not all homes purchased would qualify for this rebate. Only those houses with a maximum price of USD 800,000 would be considered to grant homebuyer credit. To be included on the beneficiary list, you must ensure that you purchase a home by April 30, 2010, sign the necessary contractual documents, and complete the sale by June 30, 2010 to be eligible under this scheme.

The process of filing a homebuyer credit claim is easy. Submit two returns, namely HUD-1 and IRS Settlement Statement of 5405 and walk away with a maximum credit of $8,000 as long as you meet the eligibility conditions set forth by the federal government. The IRS allows anyone who buys a home in 2010 to file an amended 2009 tax return and file their claim.

Home Kitchen

How to lock garden furniture

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High-quality garden furniture can be a great investment for a homeowner. Imagine the shock when you head out to your deck or patio, towel, book and drink in hand, only to find your new sun lounger is nowhere to be found.

Unfortunately, garden furniture theft is a reality in our society, more than we would like to realize. Many of these thefts go unreported to the authorities. Instead, the owner buys new furniture and either accepts the loss or files a claim with the insurance company.

Patio furniture theft is worst in urban areas, where it’s easy for criminals to see what neighbors have in their backyards. That’s not to say, however, that the suburbs are immune. far from there In many cases, it is much easier to steal patio furniture from a quiet neighborhood where the yards are not fenced.

Even a relatively small purchase, like a plastic Adirondack chair, can become a major expense if someone keeps stealing it overnight. At $20 each, a pair of chairs can really add up.

Of course, things could be worse. Someone can get hold of your barbecue, which can cost upwards of a thousand dollars or more to replace if you bought a top of the line grill.

The easiest way to prevent theft is to secure patio furniture in place. While this seems like an obvious idea to someone going on an extended vacation or wintering down south like a snow bird, it might not occur to the average homeowner who uses their patio furniture regularly.

But, as they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and that’s certainly the case when it comes to protecting your possessions from prying eyes and light hands.

Unfortunately, the furniture itself is not really set up for anti-theft measures. Figuring out where and how to lock patio furniture can be a challenge. You don’t want to pin it in place permanently, but you also don’t want to make it too easy to steal.

While no one can prevent a burglary by a professional thief armed with a bolt cutter, you can deter the casual thief with a few basic preventative measures.

The first line of defense is a plastic-coated cable or chain. These can be purchased at any home improvement or hardware store. You will also need a good padlock. Some people like the convenience of a combination lock, while others like key locks. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. With locks that require a key, you may find that you left the keys at home or that your wife has the key because she went to the store. Many people who use combination locks don’t bother to turn all the hasps when they lock them. A teenager can quickly figure out the combination simply by moving the last glass one click forward or backward. If you use a combination lock, be sure to mix up all the tumblers or you’ll end up not only looking for your furniture, but the cord and lock as well.

There are also professional alarms you can buy that are made specifically for patio furniture and grills. Many models have a screeching alarm that is not only intended to scare off the thief, but also lets him know that someone is trying to steal his stuff. They are usually motion activated, so if you have a problem with raccoons roaming your yard at night, the alarm may inadvertently go off.

When securing your garden furniture, make sure it is something that cannot be easily cut or lifted. For example, it’s not very difficult for a thief to kick a 2×2″ post into your deck. But a wire wrapped around a 4×4″ post can be labor intensive and make a thief more easily deterred.

You may also want to lock items individually instead of all together. It takes more effort to cut five wires to get a table and chair set than to undo one that had wrapped all the chairs and table together.

Finally, be sure to take pictures of your patio furniture and save receipts for the sale. If your items are stolen and eventually recovered, you will need to prove that the recovered items were really yours. You can also engrave/scratch your name and address on the furniture as an added measure of identification.