BEIJING, April 9 -- Five bidders, both military and civilian, won the first open tender for 2015 organized by the People's Liberation Army(PLA) for weaponry purchase.

The process was concluded on Tuesday, and the total purchase price was "significantly below" the budgets in previous years, according to a statement by the PLA general armament department.

This is the first time that weain.mil.cn, the PLA military weapon procurement website, has been used for open, competitive bidding.

The items released for tender, valued at around 90 million yuan (14.5 million U.S. dollars), fell into eight categories including supply containers, protective masks, weapon kits and lighting equipment.

More than 20 bidders took part.

The statement said that to further military procurement reform, more items will be opened to promote competitiveness and efficiency.