________________
37
A proposal for further research
Rajnikant Shah, Mayur Desai & Ajit Shah
Ashtapad Research International Foundation (ARIF) Reference : Request for Information, Archaeological and Scientific Research for Ashtapad Palace/Temple, Southwestern Tibet, People's Republic of China
Gentlemen,
Ashtapad Research International Foundation (ARIF), a non-profit organization established in 2008, is seeking information from qualified research institutions for further scientific research to locate historic Ashtapad Palace/Temple that was believed to have been built several thousand years ago and located in the present day southwestern Tibet, People's Republic of China.
This Request for Information ("RFI") will be used to better define the scope of the research project and will be used to generate a Request for Proposal (RFP) to advance the research conducted to date. The research project, as currently envisioned, involves the invitation to a qualified research institution(s) to prepare detailed research proposal, develop financial proposal for grants and participate into a field and office cooperative research collaboration. The qualified research institution(s) will enter into a long-term agreement with the ARIF that will require the institution to participate the research project. If the ARIF decides to progress beyond this RFI to issuing a Request for Proposals ("RFP"). the RFP will be publicly advertised and distributed to qualified interested parties, including those who responded to this RFI.
A project summary developed by ARIF is attached with this RFI for your reference. A small team. of scholars and scientists with input from religious scholars performed limited field and office study to develop a framework of the scope of study and to gather preliminary site reconnaissance information. Review of high resolution satellite photographs by space scientists from Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO), who also were part of our team, suggests a high likelihood of probable site within southwestern part of Tibet in the vicinity of Mt. Kailash.
An informational meeting/seminar with scientists involved in this project was held on January 13, 2009 at L.D. Institute of Indology in Ahmedabad. The scientific team conducted an in-depth discussion of their findings that are also presented in the attached summary document. In addition, topics for future study were discussed. The ARIF requests that interested parties submit a "Letter of Interest". The selected institutions will be encouraged to participate in our preliminary information meeting. We appreciate your interest in this RFI and we are looking forward to working with you on this very exciting project.
Very Truly Yours
Ashtapad Research International Foundation
Dr. R. Shah & Team Members
Vol. Ref. Up Coming Volume
A proposal for further research
436
