When working with Florida businesses, the government contracting experts at the Florida APEX Accelerator are often asked about how to connect with government decision makers in securing contracts at the federal, state, and local level.

While there are many commonalities between government contracting and doing business commercially, such as needing a website, business cards, and to market your business, there are certain nuances unique to government contracting, including needing a capabilities statement.

A capabilities statement is very similar to a resume. It communicates the capabilities of your business and highlights why a government agency should buy from you. It includes:

• Your contact information
• Your previous experience and where you’ve sold before
• A description of your business and capabilities
• Customer testimonials or kudos you’ve received for past performance

Additionally, it includes information unique to government contracting, including your discriminators, your business codes, and your certifications.

Discriminators are what make your business stand apart-whether your product or service is more economical, better quality, etc. Your capabilities statement also includes your business codes. These are unique identifiers that communicate what product or service your company offers. The State of Florida uses United Nations Standard Products and Services Codes (UNSPSC), an eight-digital code that breaks down into four levels of hierarchy: segment, family, class, and commodity. Lastly, there are preferred small business certifications for certain socio-economic groups that can provide you with more opportunities to win contracts, including if your business is minority-, women-, or veteran-owned.

Part of a national network, the Florida APEX offers a team of procurement specialists, many of whom are former government decision makers and government contractors, who provide technical assistance and advice-at no-cost. As part of our service offering, we can help your company determine what certifications are available to you, identify the proper codes, secure small business certifications, and develop your capability statement. Best of all, we’re a no-cost service to you.

Additionally, APEX offers dozens of workshops throughout the year. The Florida APEX at UNF will host a no-cost, virtual webinar on developing a capability statement Thursday, October 21 at 1:00 p.m. EST. To register, please click here.To learn more, and to schedule an appointment with a Florida APEX near you, please visit www.fptac.org.