diff --git a/cmake/content.cmake b/cmake/content.cmake
index ceba74491..730d97e82 100644
--- a/cmake/content.cmake
+++ b/cmake/content.cmake
@@ -1,96 +1,95 @@
 include(FetchContent)
 
-###############################################################
-# 
+# ##############################################################################
+#
 # For dependency management, use the `FetchContent` pattern
 #
 # NOTE: We seek to replicate the implementation of `FetchContent`
-###############################################################
-
-# Constructs `FetchContent_Declare` call, and records information
-# for population and linking
-# 
-# ::Overview
-#   With `cmake@3.24` and higher, the functionality of `FetchContent_` has
-#   been updated to provide the capability to try a `find_package` at the
-#   content population stage. This allows for the flexibility provided by 
-#   `FetchContent_` to easily coexist with the dependency configuration
-#   provided by `find_package`. Some benefits include:
-#   - automated fetching of content if it is unavailable
-#   - content population at configure. This allows for a package import
-#     to utilize `find_package()` or `add_subdirectory()` operations
-#   - local clones can be given priority with `FETCHCONTENT_SOURCE_DIR_<uppercaseName>`,
-#     which lets developers use dependencies explicitly in-tree
-#   The case where i.) the content or dependency is unavailable or ii.) it cannot
-#   be fetched (due, for example, to a failure of a download step) is an 
-#   unavoidable error.
+# ##############################################################################
+
+# Constructs `FetchContent_Declare` call, and records information for population
+# and linking
 #
-#   As this cmake version is relatively fresh, we also want to provide a bridge
-#   to downstream code that still is pinned to an earlier releases of `cmake`. 
-#   To that end, these macros provide for replicating the main features introduced 
-#   to `FetchContent_` in `cmake@3.24`. Future releases of `spiner` will require 
-#   a minimum of `cmake@3.24`.
+# ::Overview With `cmake@3.24` and higher, the functionality of `FetchContent_`
+# has been updated to provide the capability to try a `find_package` at the
+# content population stage. This allows for the flexibility provided by
+# `FetchContent_` to easily coexist with the dependency configuration provided
+# by `find_package`. Some benefits include: - automated fetching of content if
+# it is unavailable - content population at configure. This allows for a package
+# import to utilize `find_package()` or `add_subdirectory()` operations - local
+# clones can be given priority with `FETCHCONTENT_SOURCE_DIR_<uppercaseName>`,
+# which lets developers use dependencies explicitly in-tree The case where i.)
+# the content or dependency is unavailable or ii.) it cannot be fetched (due,
+# for example, to a failure of a download step) is an unavoidable error.
 #
-# :: Arguments 
-#   pkg_name - the name of the package or content. usually the argument to `find_package(<pkg_name>)`
-#   options:
-#   - NO_FETCH - disables all download steps. If `find_package(<pkg_name>)` fails, produce an error
-#   single_value:
-#   - GIT_REPO - the URL of the git repository to clone, if necessary
-#   - GIT_TAG  - the tag or commit to use 
-#   - NAMESPACE - prefix book-keeping variables with this
-#   multi_value:
-#   - COMPONENTS - specify required components of <pkg_name>. same as used in to `find_package`
-#   - EXPECTED_TARGETS - a list of targets that expected at population.
-#                       if these targets are not available after the population stage, an error is produced. 
-#                       if not specified, will default to `<pkg_name>::<pkg_name>`
-#   - ENABLE_OPTS - a list of cache vars used to configure content that is imported using `add_subdirectory()`
+# As this cmake version is relatively fresh, we also want to provide a bridge to
+# downstream code that still is pinned to an earlier releases of `cmake`. To
+# that end, these macros provide for replicating the main features introduced to
+# `FetchContent_` in `cmake@3.24`. Future releases of `spiner` will require a
+# minimum of `cmake@3.24`.
+#
+# :: Arguments pkg_name - the name of the package or content. usually the
+# argument to `find_package(<pkg_name>)` options: - NO_FETCH - disables all
+# download steps. If `find_package(<pkg_name>)` fails, produce an error
+# single_value: - GIT_REPO - the URL of the git repository to clone, if
+# necessary - GIT_TAG  - the tag or commit to use - NAMESPACE - prefix
+# book-keeping variables with this multi_value: - COMPONENTS - specify required
+# components of <pkg_name>. same as used in to `find_package` - EXPECTED_TARGETS
+# - a list of targets that expected at population. if these targets are not
+# available after the population stage, an error is produced. if not specified,
+# will default to `<pkg_name>::<pkg_name>` - ENABLE_OPTS - a list of cache vars
+# used to configure content that is imported using `add_subdirectory()`
 #
 macro(spiner_content_declare pkg_name)
-  set(options
-    NO_FETCH
-  )
-  set(one_value_args
-    GIT_REPO
-    GIT_TAG
-    NAMESPACE
-  )
-  set(multi_value_args
-    COMPONENTS
-    EXPECTED_TARGETS
-    ENABLE_OPTS
-  )
-
-  cmake_parse_arguments(fp "${options}" "${one_value_args}" "${multi_value_args}" "${ARGN}")
+  set(options NO_FETCH)
+  set(one_value_args GIT_REPO GIT_TAG NAMESPACE)
+  set(multi_value_args COMPONENTS EXPECTED_TARGETS ENABLE_OPTS)
+
+  cmake_parse_arguments(fp "${options}" "${one_value_args}"
+                        "${multi_value_args}" "${ARGN}")
 
   string(TOUPPER ${pkg_name} pkg_CAP)
   string(REPLACE "-" "_" pkg_CAP "${pkg_CAP}")
 
-  message(STATUS
-    "[${pkg_name}] FetchContent_Declare wrapper"
-  )
-  # because the signature is different between versions,
-  # we build the cmake call beforehand
+  # loop through targets, if already present then bail
+  foreach(expected_target ${fp_EXPECTED_TARGETS};${pkg_name})
+    if(TARGET ${expected_target})
+      message(
+        STATUS
+          "target \"${expected_target}\" already exists, tagging ${pkg_name} as already present"
+      )
+      set(${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_ALREADY_PRESENT TRUE)
+      break()
+    endif()
+  endforeach()
+
+  message(STATUS "[${pkg_name}] FetchContent_Declare wrapper")
+  # because the signature is different between versions, we build the cmake call
+  # beforehand
   set(_fetch_content_cmd "FetchContent_Declare(${pkg_name}")
-  
+
   if(fp_NO_FETCH)
-    message(VERBOSE
+    message(
+      VERBOSE
       " :: \"${pkg_name}\" is specified not fetchable, will rely on `find_package` for population"
     )
-    string(APPEND _fetch_content_cmd " DOWNLOAD_COMMAND \":\"") 
+    string(APPEND _fetch_content_cmd " DOWNLOAD_COMMAND \":\"")
     set(${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_NOFETCH TRUE)
   else()
-    message(VERBOSE 
+    message(
+      VERBOSE
       " :: \"${pkg_name}\" is fetchable, will fall-back to git clone [${fp_GIT_REPO}] if other population methods fail"
     )
-    string(APPEND _fetch_content_cmd " GIT_REPOSITORY ${fp_GIT_REPO} GIT_TAG ${fp_GIT_TAG}")
+    string(APPEND _fetch_content_cmd
+           " GIT_REPOSITORY ${fp_GIT_REPO} GIT_TAG ${fp_GIT_TAG}")
   endif()
 
   # bifurcation on cmake version
-  if (CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL "3.24.0")
+  if(CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL "3.24.0")
     # versions >= 3.24 will do an implicit `find_package`, so pass on
     # requirements to declaration
-    string(APPEND _fetch_content_cmd " FIND_PACKAGE_ARGS COMPONENTS ${fp_COMPONENTS}")
+    string(APPEND _fetch_content_cmd
+           " FIND_PACKAGE_ARGS COMPONENTS ${fp_COMPONENTS}")
   endif()
 
   # close the command
@@ -101,7 +100,7 @@ macro(spiner_content_declare pkg_name)
   cmake_language(EVAL CODE "${_fetch_content_cmd}")
   # be safe and destroy the string
   unset(_fetch_content_cmd)
- 
+
   # return some info
 
   list(APPEND ${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_CONTENT ${pkg_name})
@@ -110,102 +109,103 @@ macro(spiner_content_declare pkg_name)
   set(${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_PRIORS ${fp_PRIORS})
 
   if(fp_EXPECTED_TARGETS)
-      set(${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_TARGETS ${fp_EXPECTED_TARGETS})
+    set(${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_TARGETS
+        ${fp_EXPECTED_TARGETS})
   else()
-      set(${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_TARGETS "${pkg_name}::${pkg_name}")
+    set(${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_TARGETS
+        "${pkg_name}::${pkg_name}")
   endif()
-
 endmacro()
 
 #
-# :: Overview
-#   This macro wraps a call to `FetchContent_MakeAvailable`.
-#   If we are using a `cmake` prior to 3.24, explicitly do a 
-#   `find_package()` with the declared options 
-# :: Arguments 
-#   single_value:
-#   - NAMESPACE - the namespace used in the corrisponding `spiner_content_declare` call
+# :: Overview This macro wraps a call to `FetchContent_MakeAvailable`. If we are
+# using a `cmake` prior to 3.24, explicitly do a `find_package()` with the
+# declared options :: Arguments single_value: - NAMESPACE - the namespace used
+# in the corrisponding `spiner_content_declare` call
 #
 macro(spiner_content_populate)
   set(options)
-  set(one_value_args
-    NAMESPACE
-  )
-  set(multi_value_args
-  )
-
-  cmake_parse_arguments(fp "${options}" "${one_value_args}" "${multi_value_args}" "${ARGN}")
-
-  message(STATUS 
-    "[${fp_NAMESPACE}] Populating declared content"
-  )
-  # fill lists to populate
-  # if cmake@3.24+, these are just the lists prepared in spiner_content_declare
-  # otherwise, manually check `find_package` and remove content if found
+  set(one_value_args NAMESPACE)
+  set(multi_value_args)
+
+  cmake_parse_arguments(fp "${options}" "${one_value_args}"
+                        "${multi_value_args}" "${ARGN}")
+
+  message(STATUS "[${fp_NAMESPACE}] Populating declared content")
+  # fill lists to populate if cmake@3.24+, these are just the lists prepared in
+  # spiner_content_declare otherwise, manually check `find_package` and remove
+  # content if found
   foreach(pkg_name ${${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_CONTENT})
     string(TOUPPER ${pkg_name} pkg_CAP)
     string(REPLACE "-" "_" pkg_CAP "${pkg_CAP}")
-    # bifurcation on cmake version
-    if (NOT CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL "3.24.0")
-      find_package(${pkg_name}
-        COMPONENTS ${${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_COMPONETS}
-        QUIET
-      )
-      if(${pkg_name}_FOUND)
-        message(VERBOSE
-          "${pkg_name} located with `find_package`"
-          "${pkg_name}_DIR: ${${pkg_name}_DIR}"
-        )
+
+    if(NOT ${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_ALREADY_PRESENT)
+      # bifurcation on cmake version
+      if(NOT CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL "3.24.0")
+        find_package(
+          ${pkg_name}
+          COMPONENTS ${${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_COMPONETS}
+          QUIET)
+        if(${pkg_name}_FOUND)
+          message(VERBOSE "${pkg_name} located with `find_package`"
+                  "${pkg_name}_DIR: ${${pkg_name}_DIR}")
+        else()
+          # if no fetching and not found, produce an error conditionally include
+          # a custom error msg
+          if(${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_NOFETCH)
+            message(
+              FATAL_ERROR
+                "${pkg_name} is requested, but it was not located and is not declared as fetchable.\n"
+                "if ${pkg_name} is installed, set \"-D${pkg_name}_ROOT=<install-dir>\""
+            )
+          endif() # NOFETCH
+          message(
+            VERBOSE
+            "${pkg_name} NOT located with `find_package`, appending to populate list."
+            " Will attempt to clone repository when content is populated.")
+          list(APPEND _fetchList ${pkg_name})
+          list(APPEND _fetchOpts
+               ${${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_ENABLEOPTS})
+          list(APPEND _fetchTars
+               ${${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_TARGETS})
+
+        endif() # FOUND
       else()
-        # if no fetching and not found, produce an error
-        # conditionally include a custom error msg
-        if(${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_NOFETCH)
-          message(FATAL_ERROR
-            "${pkg_name} is requested, but it was not located and is not declared as fetchable.\n"
-            "if ${pkg_name} is installed, set \"-D${pkg_name}_ROOT=<install-dir>\""
-          )
-        endif() # NOFETCH
-        message(VERBOSE
-          "${pkg_name} NOT located with `find_package`, appending to populate list."
-          " Will attempt to clone repository when content is populated."
-        )
         list(APPEND _fetchList ${pkg_name})
-        list(APPEND _fetchOpts ${${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_ENABLEOPTS})
-        list(APPEND _fetchTars ${${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_TARGETS})
-
-      endif() # FOUND
-    else()
-      list(APPEND _fetchList ${pkg_name})
-      list(APPEND _fetchOpts ${${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_ENABLEOPTS})
-      list(APPEND _fetchTars ${${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_TARGETS})
-    endif() #CMAKE_VERSION
-    # collect all targets, reguardless of populated
-    list(APPEND _expectedTars ${${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_TARGETS})
+        list(APPEND _fetchOpts
+             ${${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_ENABLEOPTS})
+        list(APPEND _fetchTars
+             ${${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_TARGETS})
+      endif() # CMAKE_VERSION
+      # collect all targets, reguardless of populated
+    endif() # _ALREADY_PRESENT
+    list(APPEND _expectedTars
+         ${${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_${pkg_CAP}_TARGETS})
   endforeach()
 
-  # for content to be populated, set some cache options given in spiner_content_declare
+  # for content to be populated, set some cache options given in
+  # spiner_content_declare
   foreach(ext_opt ${_fetchOpts})
     message(DEBUG "setting \"${ext_opt}\"=ON")
-    set(${ext_opt} ON CACHE INTERNAL "")
+    set(${ext_opt}
+        ON
+        CACHE INTERNAL "")
   endforeach()
 
-  message(VERBOSE "\n"
-      " :: Populating dependency targets ${_fetchTars}\n"
-      " :: Calling `FetchContent_MakeAvailable` with ${_fetchList}\n"
-  )
-  message(STATUS
-      "FetchContent_MakeAvailable prepared, "
-      "this may take a few moments if a download is required...\n"
-  )
-   # populate
+  message(VERBOSE "\n" " :: Populating dependency targets ${_fetchTars}\n"
+          " :: Calling `FetchContent_MakeAvailable` with ${_fetchList}\n")
+  message(STATUS "FetchContent_MakeAvailable prepared, "
+                 "this may take a few moments if a download is required...\n")
+  # populate
   FetchContent_MakeAvailable(${_fetchList})
 
   # check that declared targets exist
   foreach(expected_target ${_expectedTars})
     if(NOT TARGET ${expected_target})
-      message(FATAL_ERROR
+      message(
+        FATAL_ERROR
           "target \"${expected_target}\" was expected, but does not exist after population!"
-          ) # NOT TARGET
+      ) # NOT TARGET
     endif()
   endforeach()
 
@@ -220,15 +220,13 @@ macro(spiner_content_populate)
   unset(${fp_NAMESPACE}_DECLARED_EXTERNAL_CONTENT)
 endmacro()
 
-
-# © 2021. Triad National Security, LLC. All rights reserved.  This
-# program was produced under U.S. Government contract 89233218CNA000001
-# for Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), which is operated by Triad
-# National Security, LLC for the U.S.  Department of Energy/National
-# Nuclear Security Administration. All rights in the program are
-# reserved by Triad National Security, LLC, and the U.S. Department of
-# Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government is
-# granted for itself and others acting on its behalf a nonexclusive,
-# paid-up, irrevocable worldwide license in this material to reproduce,
-# prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, perform
+# © 2021. Triad National Security, LLC. All rights reserved.  This program was
+# produced under U.S. Government contract 89233218CNA000001 for Los Alamos
+# National Laboratory (LANL), which is operated by Triad National Security, LLC
+# for the U.S.  Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration.
+# All rights in the program are reserved by Triad National Security, LLC, and
+# the U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The
+# Government is granted for itself and others acting on its behalf a
+# nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable worldwide license in this material to
+# reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, perform
 # publicly and display publicly, and to permit others to do so.