Synchronous burst generator circuit
I'd like to think a microcontroller will probably save you money in the overall design – less to pick and place, hence lower assembly costs, and the potential to incorporate functionality that otherwise would need more dedicated hardware (e.g. the inverting amplifier for the Pierce oscillator typically comes built-in with a microcontroller). 

Now, if you want something more hardwired-ly: there's programmable hybrid logic / analog chips. 

Silego (now dialog semi, it seems) has something they call GreenPAK, think a small one-time-programmable FPGA and analog array, and if you're working with a company with a good purchase department, then I'd guess the 13.5 ct they want a piece for their smallest variant (which definitely seems capable enough of waiting for an enable pulse, then passing through a 13.56 MHz clock, until it counts to 136) is negotiable; nice thing is that it's the price for a part coming configured with your design.

http://www.silego.com/buy/index.php?main_page=product_info&amp;cPath=67&amp;products_id=491