The Federal Materiel Establishment is a constituent organisation of the Ministry of Defence.
| Federal Materiel Establishment | |
|---|---|
| Establishment of the Ministry of Defence | |
| Employees | 1,150 |
| Headquarters | Commonwealth Materiel Depot, Karu |
| Parent | Defence Industrial Establishment |
| Service | Defence Civil Service |
The Federal Materiel Establishment (FME) is one of the two subordinate establishments of the Defence Industrial Establishment. It is responsible for the procurement of rations, uniforms, medical supplies and other non-armament equipment for the Commonwealth Armed Forces, mostly through the Supply Establishment. Arms and ammunition are procured instead by the Federal Ordnance Establishment, and the two share unified systems and a council under the DIE. They are separated only for budgeting reasons.
Because most of these goods are ordinary civilian commodities, the FME has little need for factories of its own, and its orders are generally filled by the same bureau and municipal firms that supply the shops. Its officers belong to the Defence Civil Service, and the establishment is based at the Commonwealth Materiel Depot on Karu.