Business Connect will replace the current Small Biz Connect (SBC) Program, which ends in 2016.

Business Connect will build on the success of the SBC program delivering local business advisory services, delivering increased value and an enhanced user experience to small businesses and improve operational and contractual arrangements, to create an agile and flexible service model.

The aims of the Business Connect program are to:
* Facilitate the provision of general business advice and government information to small businesses, to mitigate the impact of ‘information failure’ in relation to the quality of advisory services.
* Promote small business growth through innovation that improves resilience and boosts productivity.
* Support digital readiness and increase industry capabilities, to reach new markets and support regional development.

The OSBC will monitor a set of economic outcomes to measure the impact of the overall program, looking at employment, business set up rates, business sustainability and confidence.

To achieve the aims of the program, the Contractor will:
* Provide mobile business advisory services to small businesses in the Service Area, reflecting the geographic distribution of small businesses in the Service Area.
* Support small business creation by providing advice and information that assists intenders to establish a new business and support start-ups to enhance their survival and long term viability.
* Support established small businesses by providing services that underpin profitability, business expansion and long term business growth, enhance their survival and long term viability and support the orderly succession of ownership of existing businesses.
* Deliver one on one business advisory services by an accredited business advisor to small businesses. Services will be predominantly delivered in person, however, where it suits the small businesses’ needs, services may also be delivered by phone, online or using other agreed communication technology.
* Deliver Business Skills workshops, seminars or forums to small businesses, when this is considered to be the most effective way of providing skills development to those individuals or businesses.
* Provide Specialist business advisory services.

The term of the contract is for 3 years and 10 months, with an option to extend the Contract for a further period of 1 year (set out in Part A).