To: Board of Supervisors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: Contract Amendment - Pre-Employment Medical Exams
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Acting as the governing board of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief, or designee, to execute a contract amendment with The Permanente Medical Group, Inc., to increase the payment limit by $150,000 to a new payment limit of $350,000 and to extend the term end date from April 30, 2026, to April 30, 2028, for pre-employment medical exams.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Budgeted. 100% CCCFPD General Operating Fund.
BACKGROUND:
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District requires a qualified medical provider with expertise in pre-employment medical examinations and appropriate state licensure. The Fire District requires a provider to continue delivering essential pre-employment medical examinations aligned with Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582 guidelines. These evaluations are required for various safety-sensitive positions including Firefighters, Fire Inspectors, Fire Investigators, Fire Dispatchers, Reserve Firefighters, and Fire Control Workers.
The scope of services includes:
• Post-offer/pre-employment medical examinations
• DMV/DOT medical examinations
• Respirator medical evaluations and fit testing
• Fitness-for-duty evaluations
The Permanente Medical Group, Inc., one of California’s largest occupational health providers. With 29 clinics across Northern California, they serve a broad range of public and private sector clients. As a fully integrated healthcare system, they utilize electronic health records-facilitated through HIPAA-compliant releases-to access relevant medical information. This capability enhances early detection of health risks, potentially reducing healthcare and Workers’ Compensation costs, while improving workforce safety and productivity.
This contract amendment contains modifications to the standard indemnification language.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this amendment is not approved, the Fire District will be out of compliance with required pre-employment medical evaluation standards and unable to process new hires for safety-sensitive positions. This would directly hinder the District’s ability to maintain adequate staffing levels and meet operational demands.