Council approves Fire Rescue wellness contract with Concentra amid procurement protests

San Diego City Council on May 13 approved a five-year contract with Concentra Health Services to provide Fire Rescue’s physical-wellness and fitness-for-duty program, authorizing a not-to-exceed amount of approximately $12.07 million over the initial term and optional extensions.

Assistant Fire Chief James Gabry and Deputy Chief Willie Melendez presented the item, describing two decades of in-house wellness work and data showing stable overtime claims and early detection benefits tied to the program. Melendez cited reduced injury rates and asserted that an ongoing wellness program yields fewer long-term workers’ compensation costs.

The award followed a competitive RFP process. San Diego Sports Medicine (the incumbent provider) and local physicians who operate the current wellness program urged the council to delay or reject the award, alleging material omissions in Concentra’s proposal. Speakers identified a December 2023 San Diego Superior Court judgment that found a Concentra-related entity liable for violations including retaliation for roughly $9 million in damages and broader federal settlements and employment litigation. San Diego Sports Medicine argued those matters should have been disclosed in the RFP and that omission renders Concentra non‑responsive under the city’s contractor-standards rules.

Concentra representatives told the council the omission of a ‘‘yes’’ box on the disclosure form was an administrative error by the company’s legal team and that the company promptly cured the disclosure once notified. Concentra said its occupational‑health division would operate the city program and that Concentra provides occupational and urgent-care services to many public agencies nationwide and locally. Company medical leaders said clinicians supporting the contract are credentialed and that centers in the region include MDs and occupational‑medicine specialists.

City purchasing staff said the procurement complied with municipal rules and that, after reviewing protest material and requesting additional information from Concentra, they judged Concentra responsive. The city attorney’s office reviewed the legal concerns raised and confirmed that procurement remedies in the municipal code had been followed.

After extended council questions, public testimony and a brief recess to consult with legal staff, the council voted 5–1 to authorize the contract (Councilmember Campbell voted no). The contract will be executed with monitoring by Fire Rescue and Purchasing & Contracting; staff noted unions and firefighters would retain existing access and that expansion to additional lifeguard coverage would depend on available funding.

The dissenting councilmember urged further review of the RFP and stronger, medicine-focused procurement processes for future contracts, and several public speakers asked that the city thoroughly document local clinician credentials and the contractor’s legal history for transparency.