---
title: "The Supply and Delivery of a Multiphysics Model and Furnace Digital Twin"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05e24d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05e24d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05e24d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05e24d.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "GLASS FUTURES"
published: "2025-12-16"
---

# The Supply and Delivery of a Multiphysics Model and Furnace Digital Twin

Buyer: GLASS FUTURES  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05e24d

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## Summary

The procurement process initiated by Glass Futures focuses on the "Supply and Delivery of a Multiphysics Model and Furnace Digital Twin." The industry category involves custom software development services, programming services, hardware consultancy, and research development. Glass Futures, a public undertaking based in St Helens and Sheffield, awarded this contract directly to the University of Liverpool, a large-scale supplier. The award was made to develop a digital twin of the Glass Futures plant, integrating advanced technologies like computational fluid dynamics (CFD), thermodynamics, and artificial intelligence. Key dates include the contract signing on 27 November 2025, effective from 28 November 2025 to 31 March 2026, highlighting a direct procurement method owing to technical complexities and rapid iteration needs.

This contract offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in digital twin technology, CFD, thermodynamics, AI, and machine learning, particularly those with expertise in bespoke software development and graphical user interface design. The project, valued at £387,600, requires advanced capabilities to deliver a scientifically accurate furnace model, offering substantial growth potential for firms in the custom software and experimental development services. Companies able to integrate multiple data sources and platforms, with experience in open-source development environments, would be well-poised to capitalise on such procurement opportunities, paving the way for innovative solutions in industrial plant digitalisation. The University of Liverpool's involvement underscores the importance of expertise and proven track records in high-profile digital twin development, showcasing a lucrative field for capable enterprises.

## Notice

The procured services consist of the development of a fully visualised digital twin of the Glass Futures plant. The project includes the development of a scientifically accurate multi-physics furnace model (CFD, chemistry, mathematics and physics) capable of performing digital experiments via 'what if...?' simulations programmed through a bespoke graphical user interface (also part of this procurement). The digital twin will integrate with the Glass Futures control system in order that it will display live, accurate, plant data.

### Procurement Information

We have directly awarded this contract under the Prototypes and Development criteria. The project involves significant technical uncertainty, rapid iteration, and close integration of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), thermodynamics, and glass melt chemistry with artificial intelligence and machine learning. These are highly specialised capabilities that cannot be sourced through a standard competitive procurement process without significantly increasing project risk. The supplier to which we have awarded the contract has a proven track record of high profile digital twin development using CFD-based approaches that can be a) have their parameters adjusted via a GUI to afford a fast, novel simulation environment and b) graphically visualised using state-of-the-art graphic rendering computed at the point of simulation. Moreover, they are experienced in the use of open-source development environments and are experienced in the integration of multiple data sources and development platforms

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083460-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 16 Dec 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 17 Nov 2025 |
| Contract period | 28 Nov 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £323,000 |
| Contracts value | £323,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | GLASS FUTURES |
| Locality | ST HELENS |
| Post town | Warrington |
| Postcode | WA9 5DT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |
| ITL 2 | TLE3 South Yorkshire |
| ITL 3 | TLE32 Sheffield |
| Local authority | Sheffield |
| Electoral ward | West Ecclesfield |
| Westminster constituency | Penistone and Stocksbridge |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 2 |
| Supplier names | THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL; UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 48151000 - Computer control system
- 48520000 - Multimedia software package
- 72110000 - Hardware selection consultancy services
- 72211000 - Programming services of systems and user software
- 72230000 - Custom software development services
- 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

## Release History

- 16 Dec 2025 at 15:10 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083460-2025
- 17 Nov 2025 at 14:01 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074410-2025
- 17 Nov 2025 at 11:46 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074332-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083460-2025
  16th December 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074410-2025
  17th November 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074332-2025
  17th November 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05e24d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05e24d.json.