MOSCOW. Nov 16 (Interfax-AVN) - The Material and Hardware Procurement and Deliveries Center of the Russian Armed Forces' Logistics Service will be disbanded after the Federal Armed Forces Supply Agency has been established, Deputy Chief of the Logistics Service Colonel General Dmitry Bulgakov told reporters on Thursday.
"The Federal Supply Agency, tasked with selecting contractors, awarding contracts, and facilitating the entire supply process, will be established after which the Center will be disbanded," Bulgakov said.
"It will be a civil-run agency," he emphasized.
At the present time the strength of the Center amounts to over 100 people.
The plans were aired by Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov in early November.
"We plan to establish a civil supply agency in 2007. After that general officers will not take part in organizing any tenders at all, as it is an unnatural task for the military," Ivanov said.
He made the statement, commenting on tough punishments facing military officials, held responsible for massive poisoning of cadets in the St. Petersburg-based Mozhaisky Military Space Academy.