Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract details notice
Published 17 Nov 2025, 11:46 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

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

Official notice

Authority: Glass Futures (Public body)·Consortium: 2 public authorities

Direct awardSME suitable
Awarded value£323,000published award · exc. VAT
Awarded 17 Nov 2025no call for competition
Awarded to University of Liverpool

What is being bought

Published requirement description

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.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Direct award
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
17 Nov 2025, 11:46 GMT
Last source update
16 Dec 2025, 15:10 GMT
Authority reference
GFL/2025/04
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-083460
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Delivery area
North West (UKD)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e24d Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Prototypes Development
Published justification

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

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

26 Nov 2025 → 16 Dec 2025 · 2 dates
  1. Standstill ends328 days ago
    26 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
  2. Notice published308 days ago
    16 Dec 2025, 15:10 GMT

Notice history

6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 17 Nov 2025
  1. Transparency notice published
    17 Nov 2025, 11:46 GMT
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    17 Nov 2025, 14:01 GMT
    UK6
  3. Buyer details updated
    17 Nov 2025, 14:01 GMT
  4. Contract signature expected
    27 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled
  5. Contract details notice published
    16 Dec 2025, 15:10 GMT
    UK7
  6. Buyer details updated
    16 Dec 2025, 15:10 GMT

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £323,0001 award exc. VAT
Contracts signed 1latest 27 Nov 2025
Awarded toValueDateStatus
University of Liverpool28 Nov 2025 – 31 Mar 2026Options: Hosting and Support Services£323,00017 Nov 2025Awarded

Contracts

  • The Supply and Delivery of a Multiphysics Model and Furnace Digital Twin · University of Liverpool

    Signed
    27 Nov 2025
    Value
    £323,000
    Period
    28 Nov 2025 – 31 Mar 2026
    Status
    active
    Options
    Hosting and Support Services

    No agreed KPIs: Unique, one-off, short -term contract

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

2 public bodies on the notice

Glass Futures

Contracting authorityPublic undertaking GB-COH: 10002698 · GB-PPON: PYHR-8347-NYPX James Roby Way, Sheffield, Yorkshire & Humber, S35 2PYContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

2 commercial parties on the notice
  • The University of Liverpool Awarded supplierGB-COH: RC000660 765 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, North West, L697ZXContact email
  • University of Liverpool Awarded supplierGB-PPON: PYNH-9859-XVMD 765 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, North West, L697ZXContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender