OREANDA-NEWS. July 19, 2010. An official website of the Russian Federation torgi.gov.ru began operations in a B-testing mode. This website is created to publish information regarding competitive bidding for the contracts for federal property, organized in accordance with Article 17.1 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition", reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The Head of FAS Russia has signed and forwarded for registration by the Ministry of Justice No.400 Order "On specification of an official Internet site of the Russian Federation" of 14th July 2010, according to which from 1st September 2010 it will be mandatory for the organizers of bidding processes to publish information about the auctions for the right of possession or use of federal property on torgi.gov.ru.

The site is already available for registration of new users -auction organizers and for publishing information about auctions. Auction organizers, which can include the authorities, local self-government bodies, state and municipal organizations and enterprises as well as commercial and non-commercial organizations, can register in advance on the website and start publishing their information.

Under the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition", from 1st January 2010, it will also be mandatory to publish information about similar competitive bidding for the property of the constituent territories of the Russian Federation and municipalities on torgi.gov.ru.

Igor Artemyev, the Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service, says about the new website: "I am convinced that publishing information about the auctions for state property on the single federal Internet-portal and convenient search for the auctions will not only expand the range of potential bidders and increase efficiency of using state property but also streamline controlling activities of FAS Russia".

For users' convenience, the site contains a user's manual, site regulations, Q&A section; the support team can be reached on a multi-channel telephone number.