The Bedford Department of Public Works told the council that a clerical error in the apparent low bid for the Beals Road bridge replacement may require the town to accept the second‑lowest qualified bidder under federal funding rules. Public Works Director Jeff Foote advised the council to increase the article authorization to $3,000,000 to accommodate the likely award; he emphasized the project is federally funded and, as presented, would not raise local property taxes.

What staff reported
- Director Foote said bid openings showed an apparent low bidder had entered a clerical error (entering a total where the unit price was expected). Foote said New Hampshire DOT and the Federal Highway Administration are likely to require the town to reject that apparent low bidder and award to the next qualified bidder.
- Foote recommended increasing the warrant article to $3,000,000 as a precaution; he told the council the town would be refunded federal funds for amounts not used and that $44,000 of prior town design work would remain as a local contribution.
- Foote noted the cost difference to the federal program in the worst‑case scenario would be roughly $317,584.60 (added federal cost compared to the apparent low bidder). He said the Greenfield Parkway project bids came in under budget and that the Beals Road matter is a late‑breaking procurement issue requiring DOT and federal review.

Council action and process
- The council voted to move the Beals Road bridge replacement article to the deliberative session and to amend the article amount per staff recommendation (motion passed 7–0 at the meeting). Town staff said the article increase is an accounting action tied to federal funding and that town taxpayers would not bear additional costs for the revised authorization.

Ending
The DPW will coordinate with DOT and federal officials to resolve the procurement issue; staff asked the council to authorize the $3,000,000 figure as a worst‑case accounting measure so the project can proceed once federal approvals are resolved.