21:28, 08 February 2026

Russia Rolls Out a Digital System to Rate Suppliers in Public Tenders

An expert explains what lies behind the ECG rating used to assess companies in electronic procurement.

Two years ago, Russia introduced the ECG rating, a system designed to evaluate companies that supply goods or services through electronic tenders. The rating analyzes three criteria—Environment, Personnel, and Government—and helps contracting authorities assess a potential partner before a tender begins, while allowing businesses to build trust in their brand.

The maximum score across all three categories is 160 points. According to Anastasia Gorelkina, Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors at Siberian Business Union and a board member of Azot, many suppliers still view the ECG rating as an abstract number. In reality, she says, it is a highly specific and transparent system.

“The system automatically collects 47 public indicators from the Federal Tax Service, Rosfinmonitoring, the Federal Antimonopoly Service, the Russian Treasury, the Federal Bailiff Service, and the Ministry of Justice. These include financial statements, tax payments, enforcement proceedings, data on the execution of government contracts, environmental fines, and employee salaries relative to regional averages. At the first stage, decisions are made by an algorithm—the scoring is fully automated and assigns up to 100 points without human involvement,” Gorelkina explained.

Designed for Fair Competition

At the second stage, an expert commission that includes representatives of government agencies reviews questionnaires and can award up to 60 additional points if a company provides documentation on social and environmental programs or participation in professional associations. The rating is updated on a monthly basis.

“Contracting authorities are not required to use the rating, but they can—and increasingly do. Under Federal Law No. 44 on public procurement, customers are allowed to use the ECG rating as a criterion when evaluating bids in competitive tenders. The Federal Antimonopoly Service actively supports the use of the rating and sees it as a tool for developing competition—it reduces risks for buyers and incentivizes responsible market participants,” Gorelkina said.

Digital services like the ECG rating are increasing transparency in public procurement and making Russia’s competitive environment more open and fair.

Digital economy