Most capability statements get skimmed in 90 seconds. The ones that make the second-look pile share a few habits: they lead with codes, codes, and more codes — NAICS, UEI, CAGE, contract vehicles. They put past performance up front. They quantify outcomes.
What they avoid: marketing language, generic value propositions, and any claim of certifications they do not actually hold.
The best capability statements read like a fact sheet, not a brochure. They make it easy for a contracting officer to say yes and easy for a competitor to say nothing at all.