UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13G


                    UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                (AMENDMENT NO. )*

                          COVALENT GROUP INC
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                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  Common Stock
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                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    222815102
                              --------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                   12/31/2004
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             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

      |X| Rule 13d-1(b)

      |_| Rule 13d-1(c)

      |_| Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).


CUSIP No. 222815102

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   1. Names of Reporting Persons.
      I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

      IronBridge Capital Management, LLC
      36-4255832
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   2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

                                                                        (a) |_|
                                                                        (b) |_|
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   3. SEC Use Only


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   4. Citizenship or Place of Organization

      Illinois
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Number of Shares     5. Sole Voting Power
Beneficially Owned
by Each Reporting       609968
Person With          -----------------------------------------------------------
                     6. Shared Voting Power


                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                     7. Sole Dispositive Power

                        689968
                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                     8. Shared Dispositive Power


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   9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

      689968
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  10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See
      Instructions)                                                         |_|

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  11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

      6.56%
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  12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

      IA
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ITEM 1.

      (a)   Name of Issuer
            COVALENT GROUP INC

      (b)   Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices
            ONE GLENHARDIE CORPORATE CENTER, 1275 DRUMMERS LANE STE 100
            WAYNE, PENNSYLVANIA 19087
            
ITEM 2.

      (a)   Name of Person Filing
            IronBridge Capital Management, LLC

      (b)   Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence
            One Parkview Plaza, Suite 600
            Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois

      (c)   Citizenship
            US

      (d)   Title of Class of Securities
            Common

      (e)   CUSIP Number
            222815102

ITEM 3.  IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 240.13d-1(b) or
         240.13d-2(b) or (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:

      (a)   |_|   Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act
                  (15 U.S.C. 78o).

      (b)   |_|   Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

      (c)   |_|   Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act
                  (15 U.S.C. 78c).

      (d)   |_|   Investment company registered under section 8 of the
                  Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).

      (e)   |x|   An investment adviser in accordance with Section
                  240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

      (f)   |_|   An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
                  Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

      (g)   |_|   A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
                  Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

      (h)   |_|   A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
                  Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

      (i)   |_|   A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
                  investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
                  Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

      (j)   |_|   Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).


ITEM 4.  OWNERSHIP

      (a)   Amount beneficially owned:
            689968

      (b)   Percent of Class:
            6.56%

      (c)   Number of shares as to which the person has:

            (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote
                  609968

            (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote


            (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
                  689968

            (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of


ITEM 5.  OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS

         NOT APPLICABLE

ITEM 6.  OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON

         NOT APPLICABLE

ITEM 7.  IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE
         SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY

         NOT APPLICABLE

ITEM 8.  IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP

         NOT APPLICABLE

ITEM 9.  NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP

         NOT APPLICABLE


ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION

         By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
         belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary
         course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not
         have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
         such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a
         participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect.

                                    SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.


                                                        2/11/05
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                                         Date

                                                /s/ John G. Davis
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                                       Signature

                                        John G. Davis, Chief Compliance Officer
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                                      Name/Title