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Plans of Salem-based SAIF Corp. to renovate portions of its often flooded 7.6-acre campus are on hold because the company has not been able to devote sufficient time to the project, spokesman Dave Miller said.

The not-for-profit, state-chartered workers’ compensation insurance agency in April put out a request for qualifications for construction project management services; however, the leadership team chose to delay the effort, Miller said.

“It had a lot to do with staff resources,” he said. “Most of that was executive time. Because of the size and scope of the project, the decision was made to put the project on hold.”

Interim President and CEO John Gilkey stepped into his role after John Plotkin was fired as CEO May 9 because of alleged workplace harassment. Plotkin has since filed suit against the agency, claiming wrongful termination.

“Regardless of what happens with the CEO, this project will go forward,” Miller said. “It’s just a matter of time.”

The scope of work needed at SAIF’s four buildings, in a flood plain adjacent to Pringle Creek, is still being determined, said Tracy Meyer, SAIF’s corporate project coordinator. The Church Street building, one of three buildings occupied on campus, flooded significantly in 2012. Its ground floor is no longer in use, she said.

The High Street and Parkway buildings are in good condition and sit two feet above the flood plain; however, they would need seismic upgrades if they were renovated, according to a feasibility study SAIF conducted in March. The property’s parking garage flooded completely in 2012, but is still operable, according to the study.

A key part of the planned project would be logistics. SAIF has 672 employees at its Salem campus, Meyer said.

“One option is to move everything to the west side of the property into one building and add onto that building,” she said. “It would have to be done quickly, not incrementally. This property is just perfect for us. I don’t see us building a new building.”

Miller expects SAIF to move forward with interviews for project managers by late summer or early fall. The agency will not wait for a new CEO to be hired.

Meyer said she does not expect another RFQ to be issued; however, if companies that responded to the first RFQ are no longer available, it may become necessary to issue another one, she said.