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CC - CONSENT ITEM: (1) Waiver of Competitive Bidding Requirements, Pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code Section 3.07.075.F.3; (2) Approval of a Five-Year Professional Services Agreement with Wittman Enterprises, LLC for Ambulance Billing and Collection Services in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $145,800 in the First Year, with Consumer Price Index (CPI) Adjustments Applied in Years Two through Five; and (3) Authorization to the City Manager to Approve Amendment(s) to the Agreement in an Amount Not-to-Exceed 20% of the Previous Year’s Contract Amount to Cover Unanticipated Costs.
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Meeting Date: May 26, 2026
Contact Person/Dept.: Bryan Sua / Fire Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-5912
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (05/21/2026)
Department Approval: Kennth Powell, Fire Chief (05/04/2026) _____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) waive competitive bidding requirements, pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Section 3.07.075.F.3; (2) approve a professional services agreement with Wittman Enterprises, LLC for ambulance billing and collection services in an amount not-to-exceed $145,800 in the first year, with Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustments applied in years two through five; and (3) authorize the City Manager to approve amendment(s) to the agreement, during years two through five in an amount not-to-exceed 20% of the previous year’s contract amount to account for potential call volume fluctuations.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The Culver City Fire Department (CCFD) has utilized Wittman Enterprises, LLC for ambulance billing and collection services for nearly 30 years. Wittman has consistently provided billing and revenue recovery services, customer support, and industry expertise in support of the City’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program.
In accordance with Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Section 3.07.045, informal or formal bidding procedures are generally required after engaging the same vendor for five consecutive years when the annual value of a multi-year agreement exceeds the City’s purchasing authority. However, Wittman Enterprises, LLC provides specialized services for the CCFD’s EMS program that require professional expertise and operational familiarity not comparable through competitive bidding.
Accordingly, pursuant to CCMC Section 3.07.075.F.3, the City Council may waive formal bidding requirements when it is determined to be in the City’s best interest. Staff recommends this waiver due to the specialized nature of the services and the need to ensure uninterrupted and efficient billing operations.
As part of the updated agreement, staff recommends restructuring the scope of services to include ambulance billing and collection services, the potential to bill for treat-no-transport services, and administration of patient satisfaction surveys. The proposed scope removes electronic patient care reporting (ePCR) software from Wittman Enterprises, LLC’s purview. Staff will procure and manage ePCR software under a separate agreement.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Under the terms of the agreement, the City will pay Wittman Enterprises, LLC, $23.00 per patient billed and $1.30 per mailed customer satisfaction survey. Based on the average of 6,000 EMS calls per fiscal year, the estimated cost for the first year of the agreement is approximately $145,800, with CPI adjustments applied in years two through five.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
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MOTION(S)
That the City Council:
1. Waive competitive bidding procedures pursuant to CCMC Section 3.07.075.F.3;
2. Approve a five-year professional services agreement with Wittman Enterprises, LLC for ambulance billing and collection services in an amount not-to-exceed $145,800 in year one, plus consumer price index adjustments in years two through five;
3. Authorize the City Manager to approve amendment(s) to the agreement, during years two through five in an amount not-to-exceed 20% of the previous year’s contract amount to account for potential call volume fluctuations;
4. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.