Today is the deadline for applications from companies wanting to take part in the first ever fully open Russian state tender for computer systems – and although seen as something of a landmark for the market, it has provoked little more than anger and incredulity among Russian computer companies, none of whom qualify to take part, writes our Moscow correspondent, since you have to have had an average annual turnover of over $500m over the past five years: the Russian Federation has received a $70m loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction & Development for an Employment and Social Services project administered by the Russian Ministry of Social Protection of the Population; in September it issued an Invitation for Pre-Qualification document for a tender for 6,600 AT-compatible personal computers, MS-DOSand networking software, with installation and support in 800 Ministry offices spread over 27 Russian Oblasts and Republics; the contract award is due to be made next month.
