Mark O Volk

Mark O. Volk serves as a Contract Specialist within the Agricultural Research Service’s Office of Acquisition and Procurement, supporting the nation’s agricultural science mission through the strategic acquisition of advanced laboratory instrumentation, specialized research services, and critical infrastructure. He manages the full lifecycle of complex procurements under FAR and agency-specific guidelines, ensuring compliance while delivering mission-critical capabilities to sustain high-precision analytical research in crop science, pest management, and food safety. His portfolio primarily encompasses technical acquisitions requiring deep domain expertise in scientific equipment, facility support, and specialized maintenance services. Volk maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including Lab Leasing Co. of Stevensville, MD, and Boh Environmental, L.L.C., reflecting a pattern of long-term collaboration with vendors capable of delivering specialized laboratory leasing, environmental compliance services, and precision equipment maintenance. His procurement approach emphasizes vendor reliability, technical proficiency, and responsiveness to the unique operational demands of federal research facilities, fostering partnerships with firms that understand the stringent requirements of USDA ARS scientific operations. His contracting patterns reflect a strong emphasis on small business participation, with over 30% of awards designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, and notable support for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and 8(a) competed contracts. While the majority of acquisitions remain open to all competitors, Volk consistently prioritizes socioeconomic programs to expand opportunities for qualified small businesses aligned with the agency’s technical needs. His primary NAICS focus areas include 334516 for analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing, 811310 for commercial and industrial machinery repair, and 561210 for facilities support services. These reflect a technical specialization in procuring high-end scientific equipment, maintaining research-grade infrastructure, and ensuring operational continuity for field and lab-based agricultural research, demonstrating deep familiarity with the engineering and compliance demands of federal scientific procurement.