It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:

1. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Professional Services Agreement with On Duty Health, LLC to provide employee health and wellness services at a cost of $1,518 per employee, for a total annual expenditure not to exceed $106,260, in such form as approved by the City Attorney; and
2. Approve the Budget Transfer of $106,260 for the Fire Department's Health and Wellness Program. 

Comprehensive health and wellness programs are a critical component of firefighter safety, operational readiness, and long-term workforce sustainability. Firefighting is among the most physically and psychologically demanding professions, with personnel routinely exposed to extreme physical exertion, hazardous environments, traumatic incidents, irregular sleep cycles, and cumulative occupational stress. National fire service organizations, including the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), strongly advocate for the implementation of structured, ongoing health and wellness programs to address these risks.

A joint study conducted by the IAFF and IAFC confirms that well-designed health and wellness programs significantly reduce line-of-duty injuries and illnesses, decrease cardiovascular events, the leading cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths, and improve overall firefighter performance and career longevity. The study further highlights departments with comprehensive wellness initiatives experience reduced lost work time, lower workers’ compensation costs, and improved mental resilience among personnel.

NFPA 1583, Standard on Health-Related Fitness Programs for Fire Department Members, establishes the minimum requirements for a fire department health-related fitness program. The standard provides a framework for developing a structured, ongoing program to ensure that firefighters are physically capable of safely and effectively performing essential job functions. Historically, these services were provided through Santa Ana College. However, the program has not been consistently maintained.

In prior years, this program was funded through the Human Resources Department. The intent of this action is to transfer funding to the Fire Department budget to ensure consistent, sustainable implementation of annual health and wellness evaluations and testing, thereby enhancing firefighter safety, physical readiness, and mental well-being.

Additionally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires annual respiratory fit testing, medical evaluations, and hearing conservation testing for firefighters. While respiratory fit testing is currently completed annually, a comprehensive wellness program ensures full compliance with OSHA requirements while aligning with NFPA 1583 and the recommendations of the IAFF and IAFC.

The primary objectives of reestablishing an annual firefighter health and wellness program include reducing the risk of cardiovascular events, preventing injuries, decreasing lost work time, supporting mental and behavioral health, improving job performance and career longevity, and reducing workers’ compensation claims.

In addition to physical fitness, modern fire service wellness programs emphasize the importance of mental health and behavioral well-being. Firefighters face elevated risks of stress-related conditions, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. Integrating mental health screening, education, and early intervention into a comprehensive wellness program supports psychological resilience, reduces stigma, and promotes a healthier and more effective workforce.

This item was presented to the City Council on June 2, 2026. At that meeting, the City Council directed staff to return with an identified funding source for the proposed firefighter health and wellness program. This item is being brought back for consideration with the funding source identified.

The proposed, On Duty Health's Platinum Five-Year Program, provides a comprehensive, evidence-based health and wellness solution specifically designed for the unique occupational risks faced by firefighters. This program directly aligns with the Department’s objectives to enhance firefighter safety, improve operational readiness, reduce line-of-duty injuries and illnesses, and support long-term workforce sustainability, while maintaining compliance with NFPA, IAFF, IAFC, and OSHA standards.

In this proposal, On Duty Health would deliver a structured, five-year rotational screening program for approximately 70 Department members, ensuring annual evaluations while strategically sequencing advanced diagnostic testing to maximize clinical value and cost efficiency. Core components conducted annually include comprehensive laboratory testing, full physical examinations, and cardiopulmonary fitness assessments, supporting early identification of cardiovascular risk factors—the leading cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths nationwide.

The recommended package further strengthens the Department’s cancer prevention and early detection efforts through advanced screening modalities that exceed traditional wellness program offerings. These include full-body and targeted ultrasound imaging, PFAS exposure testing, LP-PLA2 cardiovascular risk testing, low-dose CT lung cancer screening with coronary calcium scoring, brain MRI screening, and the Galleri® multi-cancer detection blood test. Collectively, these services address both occupational cancer risks and cardiovascular disease, which remain two of the most significant long-term health threats to the fire service.

Mental and behavioral health is a critical component of this program. Enhanced psychological screening is incorporated within the five-year cycle to identify stress-related conditions, support early intervention, and promote psychological resilience. This integrated approach aligns with current fire service best practices, emphasizing the importance of mental wellness alongside physical health.

The On Duty Health delivery model further supports program sustainability and administrative efficiency. All medical records are maintained in a secure, fully electronic system, providing individual members with year-to-year access to their health data while offering the Department an anonymized, Department-wide analytics dashboard. This data-driven approach enables leadership to identify trends, target injury and illness prevention strategies, and make informed decisions regarding health improvement initiatives.

In addition to annual evaluations, On Duty Health offers ongoing occupational health services, including return-to-duty evaluations, new hire medical assessments, health education seminars, behavioral health support, nutrition counseling, and fitness training. This “one-stop” service model reduces fragmentation, improves continuity of care, and ensures consistent application of NFPA 1583 and OSHA requirements, including respiratory medical evaluations and hearing conservation testing.

Overall, the On Duty Health Platinum Package represents a proactive investment in firefighter health that supports early detection, injury and illness prevention, reduced lost work time, improved mental and physical performance, and long-term reductions in workers’ compensation and healthcare-related costs. Transferring this program to the Fire Department budget ensures consistent, sustainable implementation and reinforces the department’s commitment to firefighter safety, readiness, and well-being.

Pursuant to Section 2-335(3) of the West Covina Municipal Code, a procurement of items that are available from only one (1) source, or only one (1) source is able to supply a commodity or service within the timeframe or under the terms and conditions which meet the needs of the City is exempt from the City's competitive procurement requirements. Staff believes On Duty Health meets the sole source requirements due to the overall complexity of the service package.

The City Attorney's Office has reviewed the staff report.

The City Council has the following options:
 

1. Approve staff's recommendations; or
2. Provide alternative direction.