Abstract: The value of the public purchase system for the state may hardly be overestimated, it allows for strengthening of the export potential and competition, industrial restructuring, development of supply system, stimulation of the Research and Advanced Development stimulation, formation of new workplaces, development of certain branches of economics, which are not sufficiently attractive to the private investors. However, successful development of this sphere is stalled by a number of problems and obstacles, including economic ones, both those typical for many states and specifically Russian problems. The shortcomings of the Russian legislation in this sphere play an important role in it, while many attempts were taken to overcome them. In 2009 year alone there were 20 amendment series into the law on public purchases. Finally, it was decided to have a cardinal reform of the public purchases system, and the federal contract system was introduced. This article concerns the existing problems in the sphere of public purchases, which should be resolved by the federal contract system, positive and negative features of the new system, global experience and its use for the Russian economy.