Mark P. Garst

Mark P. Garst serves as a Contracting Officer at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), where he leads the acquisition of mission-critical geospatial intelligence capabilities to support national defense and intelligence operations. He is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of contracts related to surveying, mapping, and geospatial analytics, ensuring alignment with NGA’s strategic objectives in digital terrain modeling, automated imagery analysis, and precision geospatial delivery. His portfolio emphasizes technical services that enhance the agency’s ability to deliver actionable intelligence through advanced geospatial systems and enterprise data platforms. Garst maintains enduring relationships with industry leaders such as ESRI, L3Harris Technologies, Garmin International, Voyager Search, and Dynamic Gravity Systems LLC, all of which provide specialized geospatial software, sensor integration, and analytical tools. His contracting approach prioritizes proven technical capability and system interoperability, often resulting in long-term, performance-based agreements with vendors who demonstrate deep expertise in geospatial data processing, cartographic automation, and real-time mapping solutions. These partnerships are characterized by collaborative requirement development and rigorous technical evaluation. Garst’s procurement portfolio reflects a strict focus on full and open competition, with 100% of his awards issued under no set-aside conditions. This indicates a deliberate emphasis on selecting the most technically capable providers regardless of socioeconomic status, consistent with NGA’s need for mission-critical, high-assurance capabilities that may not be readily available within small business pools. His primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541370—Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services—encompassing the acquisition of geospatial data collection, digital mapping, imagery exploitation, and automated georeferencing systems. He specializes in procuring advanced geospatial analytics platforms, terrain modeling software, and integrated geospatial information systems that enable precision targeting, situational awareness, and disaster response operations across military and intelligence communities.