Russian state procurements practice of the recent decade has witnessed the need for improving the quality of products supplied for federal and municipal needs. The main task of the article is to analyze the new economic and legal mechanisms designed to improve the quality of product supply for public needs in the Russian Federation, and to search for alternative solutions in international procurement practice. The analysis revealed that a large part of the product in the Russian Federation is purchased by the public customers at electronic auctions. In this regard, the authors come to the conclusion that the improvement of product’s quality purchased for federal and municipal needs should be inevitably connected with the increase of effectiveness of electronic auctions — the primary method of public procurement in Russia. The analysis of the relevant provisions of the new Law № 44‑FZ showed that the procedure of electronic auction has not changed, and it cannot solve the problem. In order to find solutions to the problem in the transition period, the authors turned to the international procurement practice. Synthesis of international theoretical and practical experience in the application of auctions allowed the authors to work out practical recommendations aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of public procurement in Russia. In particular, they suggest using functional specifications and procedures of two-stage auctions.