The institute of public procurement: from Russkaya Pravda to the Federal law “On the contract system in procurement of goods, works, services for state and municipal needs”

The article is devoted to the development of legislation in the field of concluding contracts for execution of works for state and municipal needs. The author defines the stage of development of relations, on which there was a legal registration of contracts for the performance of the state and municipal needs. Most scientists believe that the earliest surviving historical document, describing the public procurement sphere is the decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich of July 7, 1654 on contract price for delivery of flour and breadcrumbs in Smolensk. However, the author argues that the institution of public procurement in Russia got its start not in the period of the socialist form of government, contrary to the doctrinal opinion of the majority, and has been known since the days of the Russkaya Pravda.